Award-winning artist Lucy Pittaway is appealing for help after her original painting, valued at £7,000, was stolen by fraudsters who used stolen credit cards to purchase it and had it delivered to a Liverpool address. The painting, titled 'Yorkshire Welcomes the World', was part of a cycling-themed series and was delivered to an address on Carver Street, on the outskirts of the city centre, in October last year.
Fraudulent Purchase and Delivery
The buyer contacted one of the galleries displaying Pittaway's work, claiming they had seen the painting online and wanted to buy it without viewing it in person. The payment was made using several different credit cards, with multiple transactions failing before the full amount was eventually processed. Pittaway's co-director later informed her that the bank had contacted them, revealing that all the cards used were stolen, and the business was required to repay the full sum.
Pittaway, who is based in Brompton-on-Swale, said attempts to contact the buyer have been unsuccessful. 'The number was dead and the email bounced back. These people had just vanished into thin air,' she said.
Impact on the Artist and Business
The 51-year-old artist expressed her distress over the loss, stating, 'It has been quite upsetting for me. I like to meet a lot of the owners of my originals. I don't know where this painting is and I feel like the hard work has all been for nothing.' Pittaway, who has been recognised as the UK's most popular artist by the Fine Art Trade Guild on multiple occasions, said the financial loss has significantly impacted her family-run business, which has already faced challenges due to the economic climate.
'We've had to close galleries recently and make redundancies because the economic climate is harder and more difficult to operate in,' she said. 'To have to give back £7,000 and not have the painting is rather difficult.'
Police and Fraud Reporting Challenges
Pittaway's team reported the incident to the relevant police forces and was referred to Report Fraud. However, they claim they have had to navigate multiple referrals and chase different authorities for information. Chief Superintendent Amanda Wolf, head of Report Fraud operations, told the ECHO that a report was made on 24 February 2026, but the information provided was insufficient to progress the case. 'If further relevant information becomes available, we would encourage it to be submitted so the report can be reconsidered,' she said.
Appeal for Public Help
Pittaway is now appealing for the public's help in locating the missing painting. She fears it may have been sold to an unsuspecting buyer, as it was delivered with all supporting documents. 'Whoever has it now will be unaware of its history,' she said. Anyone with information is urged to contact info@lucypittaway.co.uk.
