'Thieves stole my car and dumped my artwork on Manchester road'

"I just want my art back now."

A Manchester artist has called for her work to be returned after it was dumped at the side of the road when her car was stolen. Sasha Ray's white Nissan Juke was stolen from the car park of her city centre flat in Moss Side during the early hours of Thursday morning (May 29).

The 49-year-old says that around 80 per cent of her stock is now missing after members of the public took paintings belonging to her that they found on Moss Lane East.

The painter told the M.E.N that she was left "shocked" after she woke up on Thursday morning to find shards of glass and a crowbar where her car was supposed to be.

"When I got to the car and it wasn't there, I was shocked." She said, "It took me a good five minutes to realise what had happened.

"I don't have a way to get to work now, I have no car. I don't know what to do really, it was like my whole life was in that car."

Sasha says that she has been able to retrieve three of her largest paintings after being alerted by a "kind" nurse who found her business card in the same area where her work was dumped by thieves.

She added: "I called the police, filed a report and on the same day, a few hours later, a really kind lady, who is a nurse, called me on the phone and said her and her nephew found loads and loads of art on the floor.

"They just lived down the road from me. It was all over the street and people thought they were free I think, so they were grabbing them.

"She found my business card and called me to ask me what was going on. I told her about the car and she very kindly managed to retrieve three of my biggest paintings.

"She retrieved some of my framed prints and took them back to her house, then helped me take them back to my house."

Sasha says that inside her car were paintings, coasters, prints, mounts, framed prints and items for her stall, including two tables, branded tablecloths, shelves, three large easels, ten small easels, UV lights and a trolley.

"There's probably around 80% of everything that's still gone. It's quite a lot, it goes into four figures worth of stuff." She told the M.E.N.

"Thankfully I have stock in the studio so it's not my entire business, but I do events on the weekend and the car is very stocked up.

"I live in an apartment block, but the gate is broken and they're trying to fix it. So that's how they were able to get in and out.

"I stored all my art in the car because I have to get up at six in the morning. If I don't leave the things in the car, I'd have to get up at five in the morning, drive to the studio and load up the car.

"Then I'd have to go back to the studio at 8pm and put it back in the studio. I just don't have the stamina for that."

Sasha is now calling for anybody who thinks they have her work to return it.

"I just want my art back now." She said.

"It's a weird feeling to know that people have them or if they've tried to sell them. I just didn't think it would happen.

"My art is very diverse, I've got a lot of Manchester art, football art and comic art.

"The kids really love my art, I've been doing this for over ten years and it's my entire livelihood, it's already tough enough to make money."

You can get in touch with Sasha, via her website or on social media.

A spokesperson for GMP said: "We are investigating the theft of a motor vehicle from a car park on Moss Lane East, after a report was made on Thursday 29 May 2025. Enquiries are ongoing.

"Anyone with information about the theft is encouraged to contact us on 101 quoting log 1186 of 31/05/25."