Art Crime Unit Investigates Stolen Paintings Valued at £12K

Devon and Cornwall Police are appealing for help after two high-value paintings were stolen from a house in Penzance. The artworks, titled “Sunday Walkers” and “Autumn Days, Penlee Park,” by west Cornwall artist Gill Watkiss, have been declared missing.

The theft occurred between February 1st and 13th at an empty but secure property located on Morrab Road in Penzance. Both paintings are oil canvases measuring approximately 70cm by 50cm (27 ins by 19ins) and were valued at £6,000 each.

Gill Watkiss was known for her work depicting the weather as a central theme in her art, reflecting its constant presence on the north coast of Penwith. Tragically, she passed away in 2024 at the age of 85.

Anyone with information regarding these stolen artworks is urged to contact police immediately by dialing 101. The Devon and Cornwall Police are committed to solving this crime and returning Gill Watkiss’s creations back to their rightful owners.