After fearing their paintings were gone for good, these artists have been reunited with their work

Two artists separated for years from artwork that was once for sale at a now-defunct upscale inn have been reunited with their canvases — but some pieces are still missing.

Wayne Maloney and Michelle Penney Rowe hung their artwork on the walls of the Doctor's House Inn & Spa, a well-known destination inn in Newfoundland's Trinity Bay.

Their pieces were for sale on consignment, but earlier this month they told CBC News that when the inn was shuttered, their artwork went missing.

Just two weeks after a CBC News report on the missing artwork, some of the missing pieces have now been returned, with one artist acting as a courier for the other.

"Two days ago I was very happily surprised to find a package in the mail that contained something very valuable that belonged to him. So I had to make sure that [Maloney] got it," Penney Rowe told CBC News.

WATCH | The moment Wayne Maloney sees his missing art for the first time in years:

Maloney's reunion with his artwork took place at the Stone Ducky restaurant in Bay Bulls, where he was hosting a pop-up art show on Friday. Penney Rowe made the 90-kilometre drive from Carbonear to return his artwork during the event, something she called an "important mission."

Maloney now has two of his missing five paintings back: one of Peter's River and the other of Tors Cove.

"It's exciting to see mine today," Maloney said. "Never thought I'd ever see them. And they're really, they're more beautiful than I remember. They really are."

Penney Rowe recently got a message from a friend, congratulating her on her getting her artwork back after spotting a large box being held at the post office. When she opened the package, she found two of her paintings and two by Maloney.

The shipment of paintings wasn't out of the blue. After CBC News interviewed the artists, Byrne messaged the pair to say he was now living in Nova Scotia and that their artwork had been packed up by accident when the inn closed.

They were told their artwork had been located in a shipping container in Halifax and Byrne was mailing them back.

Even with that message, Maloney and Penney Rowe said they had little hope they would be returned. Byrne did not respond to a request for comment from CBC News.

Artwork returned

Maloney said he was thrilled when Penney Rowe reached out to him with the news his artwork had been shipped to her.

"We talked a few days ago and then they have them in my hands, finally? You know, it's super-special. It really is," said Maloney, beaming.

Maloney still hopes to be reunited with his other paintings, especially one of the Ferryland lighthouse.

"That's one of my largest paintings ever. And, well, if that one came back, I would be over the moon, you know? This would be all forgiven if I could find that one," he said.

"Somebody knows where that art is. That was a large piece of art. It was in the very front of the Doctor's Inn."

Penney Rowe said she was excited to have her large painting of Bradley's Cove returned.

"It's just really good to have that home,and now I can decide where its next home will be," she said.

One of Penney Rowe's paintings is still missing. She said she's been messaging Byrne who told her he believes the painting has been stolen but would let her know if it does resurface.

Maloney has a warning for artists who consider entering a consignment agreement with another business. He said artists should get a contract and take pictures of their artwork where they are being sold.

"Artists, we are a very trusting bunch. We expect that everybody's going to treat our art with the same respect we do," he said.

Shortly after speaking with CBC News, Maloney said a woman contacted him to say she had purchased the Ferryland lighthouse piece for $2,000 from the Doctor's House in 2019, though Maloney said he wasn't informed and didn't receive any profit from the sale.

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