Bristol artist left broken after thieves steal his beloved paintings

Police have issued CCTV of a suspect

A Bristol artist has spoken of his heartbreak after two of his prized paintings were stolen in a burglary he described as 'absolutely devastating'.

Pop surrealist painter Jimmer Willmott, whose work has grown in popularity in the UK and the US, said he was left 'disgusted' after learning his artwork had vanished from an office block in Brislington.

The theft happened at around 5.40pm on Sunday, March 2, when a man reportedly tricked a cleaner into letting him into the building before fleeing with the pieces.

Jimmer, known for his bold, quirky style and often humorous social commentary, said the stolen works were particularly meaningful. One of them, a large painting titled Bombin Grandma’s House , featured Red Riding Hood being chased by a wolf and had been created for a fairy tale-themed party that was cancelled during the Covid pandemic.

Speaking after the theft, Jimmer said: “I’m absolutely disgusted. I have my suspicions, but I can’t go into too much detail. Those two paintings took me ever so long to paint and the current value of both of them was £2,000. It’s just wild to me how someone could do that to me.”

The artist said the crime had hit him especially hard as he juggles fatherhood, work, and painting. “I’m a single dad and things at home are tough. I go to work every day – I wake up at 4.50am to start at a feed plant in Avonmouth, then head straight to the studio in the afternoon. To have two pieces stolen like this is absolutely devastating,” he said.

Police released CCTV images of a man they wish to speak to in connection with the burglary. He is described as being around 40 years old, with a shaved head, wearing a green jacket and white shirt.

The missing artworks include a hooded figure wielding a sword and the Red Riding Hood scene. Although the full value has not been disclosed, Jimmer’s smaller works typically sell for around £500 online.

Jimmer appealed to the public for help: “If you do have any information, please get in touch. Even if you just have suspicions, it’s really important I get the work back. It’s part of my livelihood.”

Anyone with information is urged to call 101 and quote reference number 5225069219.