Portrait of Mae West is stolen from Glasgow's Voco Grand Central Hotel

The painting of actress Mae West vanished over two weeks ago according to Daria Zapala, 40, who is behind the masterpiece. 

She had learned that the painting had been nicked after a friend was drinking at the Voco Grand Central Hotel at the weekend – and discovered it was gone. 

Now with no CCTV providing clues as to where it could be, she is desperate to find answers as to what happened to her work. 

Pictured: Artist Daria Zapala's work has been stolen

She said: “I decided to go to the hotel personally and found that it really was missing.  

“I asked a member of staff if they had any information or if anyone had phoned the police when it happened, but they couldn’t tell me anything.  

“The only thing that they said was that it had been stolen two weeks ago.  

“I couldn’t believe that in that time no one had thought to try and contact me.”  

The Finnieston based artist’s work was chosen to be displayed at the hotel after she reached the final of a competition back in 2019. 

She said: “The hotel had a big list of famous people who had stayed there over the years, all the way back to the start of the century and asked entrants to choose one of them to depict in a portrait.  

“I chose to paint Mae West because, after a lot of research, I found that she represented a lot of values that appealed to me.”  

Pictured: The stolen portrait of Mae West

Daria set to work spending hours creating a stunning oil on canvas piece that would do justice to the Hollywood icon that she had come to admire.  

Her efforts paid off when she was chosen as a finalist and learned that she would have the opportunity to display her painting in one of the hotel’s main corridors.  

She said: “At the ceremony, all of the finalists were asked if they would be willing to have their work kept and displayed on the walls.   

“I didn’t question it for a second because the hotel is such an important Glasgow landmark and so many people stay there.  

“I felt delighted and honoured that my painting would be on display.”  

Now with the painting gone, her joy has turned to despair as she wonders if she will ever see the portrait again. 

Pictured: The empty space at Voco Grand Central where the painting was displayed

She said: “I feel like the way I have been treated shows a disregard to everyone who took part in a serious competition.  

“I might not be a well-known artist, but I am a working artist and have been for over two decades.  

“I’ve worked really hard over the years and to lose an original piece is absolutely devastating.  

“If a bike, phone, laptop or something else of value was stolen then the first thing you would do is phone the police.  

“This is a unique piece of work with no copies or reproductions so there’s not even any way it could be replaced.  

“I have no idea if someone stole it because they liked it or if it was just a silly joke that ended with it being thrown in the bin somewhere.  

“I would love to be reunited with the painting. I was so proud to have been selected as a finalist and I put so much work into it.  

“I’m so upset and disappointed with the whole situation.”  

Pictured: Daria is asking searching for any information regarding the stolen painting

A spokesperson for Voco Grand Central Hotel said: “Unfortunately it is true that one of our beloved paintings was stolen a few weeks ago.   

“We are extremely disappointed that someone would do such a thing as the wall has become a much-loved feature for our guests and visitors, as well as our team.  

“The artist whose picture was taken contacted the hotel on Tuesday and we have reached out to her today to discuss further.  

“I suppose I would urge anyone that may be aware of where the picture is to either return it immediately or contact the police.”  

The Voco Grand Central Hotel has said that they do not accept any responsibility or liability for the loss of artwork as per the Grand Central Portrait competition’s terms and conditions.  

The Glasgow Times understands that they have offered Daria a phone call to discuss the matter further and have said that, should she wish to raise a police incident herself, she would ‘have their full support’.  

Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and singer whose glamorous career spanned decades. 

Known for her liberal attitude and signature husky singing voice the Brooklyn Born performer starred in a number of films like ‘I’m no Angel’ and ‘She Done Him wrong’ before her death in 1980, aged 87.