Thieves steal painting worth tens of thousands of pounds after its owner left it on a train on the way home from getting it valued
- ‘Blue Harbour’ by Sir Terry Frost was created in 1954 in St Ives, Cornwall
- The painting’s owner is offering a substantial reward for its safe return
- If you have seen the painting, you can call BTP on 0800405040 or by texting 61016, quoting crime reference number 2000009076 or contact Crimestoppers
A painting by a renowned British artist worth tens of thousands of pounds was stolen from a train just hours after its owner had it valued.
Owner Steven Cousins travelled from Milton Keynes to London to get ‘Blue Harbour’ by Sir Terry Frost. The painting was created in 1954 in St Ives, Cornwall.
But the train home was delayed and heavily crowded and he slipped it behind a seat as he stood.
When the train reached his stop, Cousins was so distracted by all the crowds and shoving that he got off and only realised he had forgotten the painting when the doors closed.
‘Blue Harbour’ by renowned artist Sir Terry Frost was created in 1954 in St Ives, Cornwall
He notified the train company but by the time it had reached its destination in Crewe, the painting had vanished.
The painting was left on the train at around 4pm on 23 January.
Mr Cousins said: ‘I was bringing the painting back from London after getting it valued. The train was very delayed and incredibly crowded.
‘I got up and moved as I felt uncomfortable and I placed the painting behind a seat where I could see it.
‘I was standing with the other people. I could not wait to get off as I was distracted by the fact that the train was so crowded.
‘I then realised I had left the painting on the train, I noticed straight away and I contacted the train authorities.’
Mr Cousins said that he had simply forgotten the painting on the train because it was so crowded.
He added: ‘It is a rare and important painting, it is a painting of some national importance because of the abstract rocking boats in it that Sir Terry Frost developed.
‘That is what he made his name with in his early career.
‘I bought it 30 years ago and I have been a collector over the years but nothing of this quality.’
He continued: ‘There is a significant reward if found and returned.’
Renowned British artist Sir Terry Frost with fellow artist Peter Griffin in 1997
Legendary British artist Sir Terry Frost who created a new art movement in Newlyn, Cornwall
Sir Terence Frost was a British abstract artist, who worked in Newlyn, Cornwall and started a new art movement in England by his abstract shapes and colours.
He ended up becoming knighted and a well-known figure in British art circles.
A spokesperson for the British Transport Police (BTP) said: ‘It’s called ‘theft by finding’.
‘We believe it’s been stolen because it wasn’t on the train and it’s not been handed into any station. He had it with him up to the moment he left the train.’
The painting, wrapped in brown packaging, it is thought to have been stolen from the train somewhere between Milton Keynes and Crewe.
You can call BTP on 0800405040 or by texting 61016, quoting crime reference number 2000009076.
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or completing the online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.