LOADING paintings into a car in preparation for an exhibition, Crediton artist Joy Stalman was devastated to find that two had disappeared, presumed stolen.

Mrs Stalman is exhibiting her work at Crediton Library this month partly in celebration of her 99th birthday at the end of November.

“I had left the car door open while we were loading paintings. When we got to the Library to unpack we realised two were missing.

“We checked back at the house, nothing there. We checked the car again, nothing. So I got two more pictures for the exhibition,” said Mrs Stalman who lives on Saxon Close.

“The paintings taken were fairly small. Both were acrylic, scenes of the Exe estuary. The police have been to see me about this.

“If anyone finds them or sees them perhaps they could be left at the Library,” said Mrs Stalman.