EKING out a living as an artist can be a tough gig at the best of times, so for Michelle Miller losing a painting worth $4500 has been devastating.

The local painter’s acrylic image of jazz trumpeter Miles Davis was in The Finishing Touch gallery on High Street where it was popular with customers, but because of it’s large size, difficult to sell.

Over Christmas she had to move the painting but, during transition, her handbag was stolen. While sorting that out Miller left the painting with a business at the Many incubator in the old Myer building, expecting to pick it up next day. But she suddenly fell ill and was hospitalised for an extended period.

While recuperating, she was thrilled to get a call from the gallery saying it had finally sold the painting, but to her horror the manager of the Many business said he couldn’t locate it.

• Michelle Miller’s devastated by the loss of her Miles (this is a miniature copy of the work). Photo by Steve Grant

Miller was furious, as she’d left her contact details and says there were no messages left on her phone while she was hospitalised. She says the manager tried to brush her off by saying it had been missing since before Christmas, but, while scouring the building, she ran into another employee who said he’d seen it the week before during a PIAF Fringe Festival Event.

“He said that he’d seen it leaning against the outside windows,” Miller told the Herald. She says for a struggling artist the sale of a painting of that value can make the difference between a hot meal and an empty plate. “I was devastated,” she says. “With the handbag as well, I feel like my whole life has been stolen.”

The painting is based on a famous portrait of the bebop pioneer by Anton Corbijn, so if one’s mysteriously appeared on your wall, contact the Chook or Finishing Touch.

by STEVE GRANT