A PAINTER was conned by an elderly man in a bizarre art sting.

Fran Savidge, 19, a foundation art student at Oxford Brookes University, was targeted by a pensioner who commissioned her to paint a picture of two dogs.

The pensioner claimed the painting would be a gift for his daughter and agreed a fee of £50 with Miss Savidge, who then spent three days completing the artwork.

Miss Savidge then met the man, known only as Paul, on Tuesday to receive payment.

However, after she handed the painting over the man said he had to walk to a cash machine. He took the picture and never returned.

Miss Savidge, of Little Compton, near Chipping Norton, said she hoped an Oxford Mail reader might recognise her painting. She said: “It was quite informal. All I knew was his name was Paul.

“He called me after I finished and we agreed to meet at the university on Tuesday.

“He said he liked the painting and wanted me to do another one.”

The pensioner held on to the painting as the pair walked along London Road in Headington, to Starbucks coffee shop, when the man said he needed to go to the cash machine.

The art student waited for 20 minutes but he never returned and has not answered any phone calls.

Miss Savidge, the daughter of world-renowned opera singer Peter Savidge, a professor at the Royal College of Music, said: “He seemed really genuine. When we were walking he was talking about his daughter and was really enthusiastic about art.

“I didn’t see it coming at all and it makes me very wary about people now.

“Now when I look back there are things I could have picked up on. It was all quite informal.”

Miss Savidge was first approached by the man at Oxford Brookes University campus last month. He said he was looking for an artist and, after agreeing the fee, he handed her a photo of two dogs which she was to copy for the piece.

She described the conman as about 65, very chatty, with a long coat and dark hair.

Miss Savidge and her father both called police but were told the incident was a civil matter and not a crime.

However, following a call from the Oxford Mail, police officers will now be interviewing the family and investigating the allegations.

Police spokesman Victoria Brandon said: “We have now made contact with the family to get all the details and follow any lines of inquiry.

“We need to establish the exact circumstances that occurred.”

The family have also requested the CCTV footage from Starbucks.

Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk