A woman from Bromley who has been searching for her painting which went missing at an amateur art exhibition is now offering a reward of £100 for anyone who returns it.

The painting disappeared from the Old Church School Halls in Old Hayes, Bromley, on Saturday, July 23, 2022.

While the painting is not worth anything and is purely of sentimental value, artist Barbara Fowlds would like to find it and has been trying to track it down for more than a month.

She recently decided to add a reward to the appeal to try and encourage anyone who might have it to return it to her.

Barbara explained that after having a small premium bond win, she thought she would try and use the £100 to entice it’s return as she “was not losing out on any money”.

She said that the whole ordeal has become a bit of a mystery.

Barbara told the News Shopper: “I have asked everyone who went.

“Everyone I know who attended has been asked if they know anything about what happened to it and nobody knows.

“They are all now very interested in what has happened to the painting.

“I just happened to like that one, I was quite pleased with it - and other people liked it too.

“I’m quite upset that it has gone.

“It is really not worth anything at all except to me.

"I'd like it back if possible.”

The painting, which is of a mother and child on the beach, was on display in the Old Church School Halls from around 2.30pm.

Barbara said it was placed in a “very large” Laura Ashley bag at the end of the exhibition ready to take home at around 4pm but could not find it.

She says that it “could not have gone unnoticed” if someone had picked it up.

Barbara searched the various rooms for it and left the venue at around 4.20pm after being unable to find the painting.

Barbara, who enjoys painting as a hobby, said anyone may have it as “people can just walk in and have a look around if they want to."

The acrylic painting has her initials on the front and full name on the back along with the date it was painted.

Barbara thinks that maybe someone could have taken the Laura Ashley bag thinking that there was something from Laura Ashley in there, or thinking it was theirs.

Barbara, who has been attending art classes for seven years now, finds the hobby relaxing and loves attending the workshops.

She has also been a member of the News Shopper Camera Club for many years and often has the photos printed in the paper.

Barbara says would be grateful to have her painting returned to her, no matter the circumstances of why it went missing.

She has also posted flyers in local supermarkets, framing shops, village halls, cafes, pubs and churches, but has had no luck on tracking down the painting.

If you have Barbara’s painting or have any further information please email amy.clarke@newquest.co.uk

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