A single mother has described the "gut-wrenching" moment she found someone had gone through her artwork and ripped out 12 of her best works.  

The artist, who lives near Jenny Lind Park in the NR2 area of Norwich, lost her sketchbook in the area earlier this week.  

She said there was lots of work in there that she planned to take further so was keen to get it back – however, when she found her sketchbook after retracing her steps, it was not the happy reunion she had hoped for.  

Norwich Evening News: Many of the artworks that were stolen were still in progress Many of the artworks that were stolen were still in progress (Image: Tekura Maeva)

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Tekura Maeva, 44, has always been creative and worked in jobs such as digital illustrations for editorial.  

But now her children are older, with both of her sons being 13 years old, she was hoping to do more art.  

Tekura said: “There were 12 pages ripped out, which included a watercolour of a Norfolk beach, a colour pencil of an octopus, your typical day-of-the-dead skull on a rose and an illustration of a three-eyed dog. 

“These drawings are important to me, no one else, so I am gutted they are gone, I could redo them, but it wouldn’t be the same.”

Norwich Evening News: Luckily the tree-eyes dog sketch that was stolen has already been transferred to lino Luckily the tree-eyes dog sketch that was stolen has already been transferred to lino (Image: Tekura Maeva)

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Tekura describes the moment she saw some of her art was gone as “gut-wrenching” and believes it was carefully selected after flicking through the book.

She added: “I just hope whoever has them looks after them.” 

While Tekura is worried the art will be replicated or passed off as the thief's own, she is confident that they will be caught out in the end.  

Norwich Evening News: Tekura hopes whoever took her art looks after it Tekura hopes whoever took her art looks after it (Image: Tekura Maeva)

She said: “I would like my drawings back, but if the person intends on keeping them, I hope they get inspired by them and create their own art.” 

There has been one upside though, as after sharing her frustration on social media Tekura has been invited to display her art at a London exhibition next year.

Norwich Evening News: Tekura Maeva has been offered a show in London following the theft Tekura Maeva has been offered a show in London following the theft (Image: Tekura Maeva)