Appeal after valuable lion paintings stolen from Dorset art gallery

The paintings were stolen from Studio 19 in Lyme Regis Credit: Studio 19

Officers investigating a burglary at an art studio in Lyme Regis are issuing images of the stolen paintings in a bid to find them.

The three distinctive lion pictures were among a dozen paintings taken from Studio 19 in Broad Street between Sunday 1 December and Wednesday 4 December 2024.

Reports suggest they are worth up to £20,000.

Two of the stolen paintings by gallery owner Maxime Xavier Credit: Gallery 19

The three paintings are highly distinctive and it's hoped they will be easily identified.

Police Community Support Investigator Graeme Williams, of West Dorset police, said: “An investigation is continuing into the incident and we are now in a position to release images of the stolen paintings.

“I would ask anyone who has seen these paintings for sale either online or locally in unusual circumstances to please get in touch.”