Scots artist Jack Vettriano hailed 'the people's painter' as tributes flood in

TRIBUTES were last night paid to Scots artist Jack Vettriano after he died at 73. Critics loathed the creator of The Singing Butler but a pal said: “He was the people’s painter.” He was tonight hai…

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TRIBUTES were last night paid to Scots artist Jack Vettriano after he died at 73.

Critics loathed the creator of The Singing Butler but a pal said: “He was the people’s painter.”

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Jack Vettriano at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow where more than 100 paintings spanning his entire career were on display in 2013Credit: PA:Press Association

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The artist was found dead on SaturdayCredit: Paul Hackett - The Sunday Times

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The Singing Butler is among his most famed works and became a best-selling imageCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

He was tonight hailed in his birthplace of Methil — where the miner’s son took his first steps towards worldwide fame as an artist.

Locals told of their sadness and shock after news broke of his death in France, aged 73.

Poignantly, his sudden loss led to the postponement of an exhibition in his Fife hometown, due to open on Tuesday, that would have included some of his paintings that have never been seen in public before.

Dozens of pieces were to go on show at Affordable Arts in Methil.

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Gallery workers had been putting the finishing touches to displays when they heard Vettriano had been found dead in his apartment in Nice, in the south of France, on Saturday.

It is understood there were no suspicious circumstances.

Last night Affordable Arts owner Ryan McPhee, 37, told how he had decided to delay the event by a month as a mark of respect.

Instead, a book of condolence has been opened at the venue for fans of Vettriano to sign.

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Mr McPhee said: “It’s very sad news. Jack was a giant of Scottish art.

"The last time we showed his paintings here we had visitors from Colorado in the US plus Thailand and all over the UK.

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“We hope everybody will sign our book of condolences to show how much they loved his work.”

The exhibition, which will now open in April, features open and limited edition prints, artist’s proofs and five original pieces.

Among them is the oil painting Lost Lovers, which depicts a couple getting close as they overlook the sea at Leven, just minutes away from the gallery.

Four others were made during the artist’s early career and are signed under his real name Jack Hoggan. They have never been displayed publicly before.

Some of the pieces will be lent from the private collection of Duncan McPhee, 64, a pal of Vettriano.

Tonight he explained: “I first met Jack when I framed pictures for him way back in the 1980s. He was a great guy, just lovely and good natured.

“The art critics never accepted him but, the more they put him down, the more that people bought his work. Even if you only had £20, you could still get one of his prints.

“He was called the people’s painter because he brought art to the masses.”

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His paintings were set to be part of an exhibition in Fife with limited edition prints, artist’s proofs and five original piecesCredit: Paul Hackett - The Sunday Times

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Some of the pieces will be lent from the private collection of Duncan McPhee, 64, a pal of VettrianoCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Local artist Lucienne Suter, 67, said Vettriano’s death will cause the value of his artwork to soar.

She told The Scottish Sun: “Jack was one of Scotland’s best-known contemporary artists.

“It’s a very sad loss. He grew up here and remained very fond of it and visited quite often.

“He came from very humble beginnings. His dad was a miner and Jack knew every step of these streets.

“He was untrained, totally self-taught, but very modest.

“Vettriano did apply for art school but was rejected and developed his own style.

“He was shunned by the critics, who considered some of his subject matter to be vulgar.

“He had a cheeky sense of humour and some of his works are quite sexually charged.

“And maybe they were seen as something not acceptable.

“Undoubtedly demand will be high and values will increase as a result of his sad passing.”

Artist of people brushed off digs

SNEERING critics might have derided Vettriano’s paintings as “soft porn”.But the public disagreed — snapping up his prints and books in their droves.

And the artist brushed away bad reviews of his “overly sexualised” work.Vettriano once said: “What I’ve suffered from, and what I continue to suffer from, is that critics don’t take sex seriously.

“They think it’s not real art. I will disagree to the day I die that it is serious.

“That’s the power of sex and I’ll never deviate from examining that power.”

He never fit in with the establishment and felt harshly judged by peers as he was self-taught. Claims he had copied other artists were also batted away.

Characters in The Singing Butler were alleged to have been nicked from an 1987 illustrators’ guide.

The manual, which cost £16.99, featured models in poses that could be copied and often inspired the work of graphic designers.

Vettriano always denied any wrongdoing and blasted detractors who questioned his abilities.

He said: “They don’t like an artist who is as popular as me because it takes away part of their authority. If they want to ignore me, let them.

“I have what I want and that is the support of the public. That means far more to me than the approval of a bunch of well-educated art buffs.”

Other pieces going on display include portraits of Scots Formula One legend Sir Jackie Stewart, 85, signed by the race hero.

Vettriano left school at 15 to become a mining engineer but then took up painting after a girlfriend gave him a box of watercolours for his 21st birthday.

His passion was partly fuelled by Kirkcaldy Galleries. He admitted to studying works from artists such as Samuel Peploe and William McTaggart so intently that he feared staff would get suspicious of him.

But in 1989 he was rejected by Edinburgh College of Art, who told him his portfolio was not good enough to earn a place at the prestigious institution.

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Billy Connolly was painted by him - and was honoured in a mural in 2017Credit: BBC Handout

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One of Scottish artist Jack Vettriano’s paintings which sell to stars like Jack Nicholson and Robbie Coltrane.Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

He later credited the snub with inspiring his breakthrough in 1998 when he submitted two paintings to the Royal Scottish Academy’s annual show. Both sold immediately.

The Singing Butler is among his most famed works and became a best-selling image in Britain.

It shows an elegant couple dancing on a storm-swept beach accompanied by their butler and maid.

Painted in 1992, it sold at auction in 2004 for £744,800 — a record at the time for any Scots painting and any painting ever sold in Scotland.

It was reimagined by street artist Banksy for his anti-pollution piece Crude Oil (Vettriano), now owned by Blink-182 star Mark Hoppus, which, ironically, is expected to fetch as much as £5million at an auction in London today.

Vettriano was awarded an OBE in 2003 for services to visual arts.His hundreds of works include Sweet Bird of Youth, Something In The Air and The Road to Nowhere.

A major retrospective was held in 2013 at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow, which attracted more than 136,000 visitors.

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He was originally rejected by Edinburgh School of Art

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Jack Vettriano holds up a copy of his book ahead of a signing session held at a London bookstore in October 2004Credit: AP

And a recreation of his painting of Sir Billy Connolly was installed as a mural on a Glasgow building in 2017 to celebrate the comedy legend’s 75th birthday.

Vettriano’s sudden passing comes three years after he talked about sinking into a booze and drug-fuelled depression.

In one of his last interviews, he compared himself to Jack Nicholson’s character in The Shining who descended into madness.

He explained: “I was in a very destructive relationship, which ended when Covid began, and shook me both emotionally and financially.

“I just used to go to Sainsbury’s, buy a bottle of vodka, and then get some cocaine. I just spent five months watching TV.”

He said his downfall was stopped by two Eastern European women who inspired him to start painting again after they told him they were impressed by his talents.

Vettriano added: “I can’t go on dating sites. I can’t go clubbing. I can hardly bloody walk, never mind dance. So the opportunities to meet the opposite sex are really dwindling.

“But it goes a long way to say, ‘Oh, and by the way, look at my website.’

“They see it’s not just Joe Ordinary — which almost definitely helps.”

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Jack Vettriano at Bonhams in Edinburgh as he stands beside his Winsor and Newton easel and his painting An Unexpected GuestCredit: PA

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Valentine Rose, a previously unseen painting by Jack Vettriano which will feature in an exhibition at the Kirkcaldy Galleries in FifeCredit: PA

Among those known to have bought his paintings are music icon Madonna, Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson, ex-Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and late Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane.

His publicist said tonight: “Jack Vettriano’s passing marks the end of an era for contemporary Scottish art.

“His evocative and timeless works will continue to captivate and inspire future generations.”

First Minister John Swinney said: “I am very sorry to hear the news that Jack Vettriano has died.

"He made a unique and evocative contribution to artistic life in Scotland in such a compelling style.”

Read more on the Scottish Sun

Scottish Labour’s leader Anas Sarwar commented online: “Very sad news. Jack Vettriano was an iconic Scottish artist.

"My thoughts are with his family and friends.”

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