Gold Coast mum devastated after painting sold for hundredth of estimated value

A Gold Coast mother says she feels "taken advantage of" by a well-known Sydney art collector who bought a painting from her for just a hundredth of its estimated value.

Single mum Sarah Thomas was struggling financially when she listed a piece by French artist Pierre Soulages on Facebook Marketplace.

She was contacted by Sydney art collector Leigh Capel, who made an offer twice what she had advertised.

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"I was delighted I'd made $200 and made more money than I thought I would," she told 9News.

But her joy turned to disbelief when another person came forward and estimated the value of the piece at $20,000 after recognising its rarity - one of just 200 in the world.

"I was shocked and felt sick to my stomach that I'd handed over what's not even a weekly shop for me and my three kids," Thomas said.

"I was just devastated and I immediately got back in touch with the buyer."

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In the following days, Thomas claimed Capel blocked her number.

9News contacted Capel via a phone call. He declined to comment on the matter.

Thomas said she wanted to talk to Capel and have the painting back.

"I'm gutted, I feel that he completely took advantage of the situation he bought a piece at a fraction of the value when he knew what he was buying," she said.