Sculptor Rebecca Warren helped fashion a £30,000 profit for the annual Women in Art lunch organised by the British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel.

The former Turner Prize nominee discussed her career with Clarrie Wallis, curator of contemporary art at Tate Britain, before more than 150 guests at Chelsea College of Art.

Ms Warren had been a student at Chelsea College and recalled opting to work in clay at a time it was considered "uncool". She is this year showing at the Venice Biennale and BFAMI co-chair Wendy Fisher is a collector of her work.

"Art is not partisan," Ms Warren said. "Art education offers a great window on to the world. Here we can take it for granted but in more troubled places art can have amazing power." Together with Carl Freedman of Counter Editions, she donated a collage which raised £3,000. Proceeds from the event will go towards educational programmes at the Israeli museums.