Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, best known for his iconic painting The Singing Butler, has passed away at the age of 73. His publicist confirmed that Vettriano was found dead in his apartment in Nice, located in the south of France, on Saturday. There are no indications of foul play surrounding his death.
Born Jack Hoggan on November 17, 1951, in Methil, Fife, Vettriano was a self-taught artist. Jack Vettriano left school at the age of 16 to pursue a career as a mining engineer. For his 21st birthday, he received a set of watercolour paints, which sparked his interest in painting. From that point on, he dedicated much of his free time to teaching himself the craft.
Vettriano drew inspiration from the works displayed at Kirkcaldy Galleries, studying paintings by artists like Samuel Peploe and William McTaggart so closely that he worried about raising the suspicions of gallery staff. His big break came in 1998 when he submitted two paintings to the Royal Scottish Academy’s annual exhibition, both of which sold on the first day. This success motivated him to pursue art full-time.
Despite being often criticized by art critics, Vettriano’s work achieved international recognition, leading to exhibitions in cities such as Edinburgh, London, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, and New York. In 2003, he was appointed an OBE for his contributions to the visual arts.
Jack Vettriano’s most famous painting, The Singing Butler, sold for £744,800 at auction in 2004, setting a Scottish record at the time. The artwork features an elegant couple dancing on a stormy beach, accompanied by their butler and maid. Reproductions of the painting became the best-selling art print in the UK. The piece was reinterpreted by Banksy in his work Crude Oil (Vettriano), which is now owned by Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus. The piece is expected to sell for between £3 million and £5 million at an upcoming auction in London.
Although Vettriano faced rejection from galleries early in his career, his self-portrait The Weight was later displayed long-term at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery after its renovation in 2011. The first major retrospective of his work was held in 2013 at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. The exhibition attracted over 136,000 visitors during its five-month run, becoming one of the most successful commercial exhibitions ever held in the city. A further retrospective was hosted at Kirkcaldy Galleries in 2022, which focused on Vettriano’s early career and formative years. In 2017, Vettriano also created a portrait for one of the large murals of comedian Billy Connolly, which were installed in Glasgow to celebrate Connolly’s 75th birthday.
Among the notable individuals who owned paintings by Jack Vettriano were Jack Nicholson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Tim Rice, and Robbie Coltrane. Vettriano had openly discussed his struggles with mental health, as well as his battles with alcohol and drug dependence.
His publicist stated that his passing “marks the end of an era for contemporary Scottish art” and that “his evocative and timeless works will continue to captivate and inspire future generations.”
First Minister John Swinney paid tribute to the artist, offering his condolences to his family. He expressed his sorrow on X, writing, “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 compelling style.”