SCOTTISH painter Jack Vettriano has died in France aged 73, his publicist has said.
Vettriano, who was born Jack Hoggan on November 17, 1951, in Methil, Fife, was found in his apartment in Nice on Saturday, the publicist said.
It is understood there are no suspicious circumstances around the 73-year-old’s death.
For his 21st birthday, he was given a set of watercolour paints and, from then on, he spent much of his spare time teaching himself to paint.
He learned by copying the Old Masters, Impressionists and Scottish artists and drew much of his inspiration from studying artworks at Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery. He studied paintings from artists such as Samuel Peploe and William McTaggart so intently that he feared arousing the suspicions of gallery staff.
His breakthrough came in 1998 when he submitted two paintings to the Royal Scottish Academy’s annual show and both sold on the first day, inspiring him to become a full-time artist.
His 1992 painting the The Singing Butler is among his most famed work and shows an elegant couple dancing on a storm-swept beach accompanied by their butler and maid, becoming a best-selling image in Britain.
It sold at auction for £744,500 in 2004, which was the record at the time for any Scottish painting and for any painting ever sold in Scotland.
Among those to have acquired Vettriano paintings are Jack Nicholson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Tim Rice and Robbie Coltrane.
His publicist said in a statement: “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.”
