Four glass windows of Cultural Medallion recipient Tan Swie Hian's second-floor studio were smashed, scattering glass shards throughout the room.

Meanwhile, another artist in the same building, painter Raymond Lau, found that someone had loosened the nuts to the left back tyre of his van, which was parked in the carpark.

Both artists were abroad when it happened, but filed police reports after they returned to Singapore on Monday.

The Telok Kurau Studios, which used to house a primary school, has four levels and 28 classrooms converted into studios.

They are rented out to artists such as veteran painters Teo Eng Seng and Goh Beng Kwan, as well as watercolourist Ong Kim Seng.

The premises are patrolled by a security guard from 10pm to 7am the next day.

Read the full story in Life! section in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.