A THIEF snatched a painting of the Archangel Gabriel off the wall of an Oxford pub.

Artist Lorna Marrison exhibited some of her work at The Punter on Osney Island as part of this year’s Artweeks.

But her efforts took a sour turn when someone grabbed the painting off the wall and fled.

The 58-year-old from Eynsham said: “It has made me very sad. Hours of work had gone into that painting.

“My only hope is that whoever nicked it really liked the painting and wanted it, rather than it being thrown into a hedge somewhere.”

The painting, which was of the Archangel Gabriel as a morris man, was one of a series of eight, though the other seven were left untouched.

Ms Marrison, who has been painting since she was a child, has been exhibiting her work at Artweeks, an annual festival when Oxfordshire artists can exhibit their work, since 2000.

The annual event sees around 500 exhibitions take place across Oxfordshire with thousands of art lovers turning out to see them.

She said it would not deter her from exhibiting at the festival again, but she would probably attach her paintings to the walls more securely.

When Ms Marrison came to pick up her paintings on Saturday, May 26, she was told that one of them had been taken the night before.

The stolen painting was 10 inches wide by 12 inches high. It was painted in oil on canvas and framed in oak.

She said: “It was hanging on the wall just above head height so someone must have made a real effort to take it.

“According to the manager of The Punter it was a very crowded evening.

“The painting was at the top of my price range. I would have sold it for £450.”

Ms Marrison said she had not reported the theft to the police, but had made an appeal via her blog as well as social networking site Facebook.

l If anyone comes across the picture they can contact Ms Marrison’s son Keith on 07970 397041.