First Minister leads tributes to 'evocative' Scottish artist Jack Vettriano

First Minister John Swinney has led the tributes paid to Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, who died aged 73.

His publicist said that Vettriano, born Jack Hoggan on November 17, 1951, in Methil, Fife, was found on Saturday at his apartment in Nice, in the south of France.

It is understood there are no suspicious circumstances around the 73-year-old’s death.

First Minister John Swinney wrote on X: “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. My condolences to his family.”

The Singing Butler by Jack Vettriano. Jack Vettriano

Art historian Richard Morris said: “For all the downgrading of Jack Vettriano’s paintings by critics who often called his work ‘soulless, fetishistic and empty,’ he was self-made and gave the public what it wanted and I don’t believe passing a verdict on art that is someone’s dream, someone’s life.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also paid tribute to the “iconic” painter.

He said: “Very sad news. Jack Vettriano was an iconic Scottish artist.

“My thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Scotland

Scottish painter Jack Vettriano found dead in France

Vettriano was discovered dead at his apartment in Nice, in the south of France, his publicist said.

Vettriano left school at 15 to become a mining engineer but took up painting after a girlfriend gave him a box of watercolours for his 21st birthday and came to Kirkcaldy Galleries to learn from the work of other artists.

His works garnered international acclaim, leading to exhibitions in cities such as Edinburgh, London, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and New York.

However, he did not forget his Fife roots, and when he was represented by the Portland Gallery in London, he made sure his work was shown in Kirkcaldy.

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.

Among those to have acquired Vettriano paintings are Jack Nicholson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Tim Rice and Robbie Coltrane.