A Springwood artist is heartbroken that a painting she donated to a charity has seemingly been lost by a courier company with no explanation given.
Trudie Moore arranged for Allied Express couriers to collect the 90cm x 1metre artwork from her front door on July 26, to be delivered to the Aids Council of NSW in Sydney.
She had donated the Metropolis encaustic artwork, painted using beeswax in 2017, to be used by the charity in a silent auction at its hero awards night in October.
But the painting did not arrive in Sydney, in its place, the charity were given two shoeboxes, with a note from the courier saying they were from herself, Ms Moore said.
The shoeboxes were not included with the painting she left by the front door.
"Art is part of you. It was a big pull on me to donate that painting, it's one of my favourite pieces," Ms Moore said.
She said the Aids council did so much for people, donating art was "a good way of giving back".
Ms Moore has been trying since July to get an answer out of the courier company, only to be told the parcel could not be found, the case was closed and she should download a claim form. She did this, only to discover that artwork was among the items exempt from putting in a claim.
She's also reported the matter to Blue Mountains Police.
"I've gone down all the avenues I could," Ms Moore said.
She had included a biography with the artwork, so could be contacted if the artwork had been misplaced in a warehouse somewhere.
"I hold out hope that eventually it will come back. Maybe Santa will drop it off," Ms Moore said.
"Even if someone has it and they are remorseful, they could leave it on the step, I just want the painting back."
Allied Express couriers did not respond to a Gazette request for comment.
