Internationally acclaimed Scottish artist Jack Vettriano found dead in France aged 73
The self-taught painter who is behind some of Britain’s most famous paintings, including The Singing Butler, has died aged 73.
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The body of the famous Scot, born Jack Hogan, in Methil, Fife, was found in his flat in Nice on Saturday, his publicist said.
It is understood there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
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.
He grew to become one of Britain’s best-selling artists, with works including Bluebird at Bonneville, Dance Me To The End Of Love, A Voyage Of Discovery and The Blue Gown.
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."
Vettriano grew up in poverty, sharing a bed with his brother. He began working at age 10 with his father, who was a miner.
The self-taught artist drew inspiration from works at Kirkcaldy Galleries, studying 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 works garnered international acclaim, leading to exhibitions in cities such as Edinburgh, London, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and New York.
His 1992 painting 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.
The first major retrospective of Vettriano's work was held in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow in 2013.
It attracted more than 136,000 visitors during its five-month run and was said to be the most successful commercial exhibition ever staged in Glasgow at that time.
A further retrospective was held at Kirkcaldy Galleries in 2022, focusing on his formative years and early career.
Vettriano created a portrait for one of the giant murals of Billy Connolly installed in Glasgow in 2017 to mark the comedian's 75th birthday.
A reimagining of The Singing Butler by artist Banksy, named Crude Oil (Vettriano) and owned by Blink-182 star Mark Hoppus, is to go to auction in London on Tuesday where it is estimated to fetch between £3 million and £5 million.
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney was among those to pay tribute to Vettriano.
He said: "I am very sorry to hear that one of Scotland's best-known artists, Jack Vettriano, has died, and I want to express my deepest condolences to his family.
"From humble beginnings as a self-taught artist from Methil, Jack made a unique and evocative contribution to artistic life in Scotland, rising to become a household name thanks to iconic paintings like The Singing Butler, which has graced the walls of homes and galleries around the world.
"Born and raised in Fife, much of his early exposure to art came from the Kirkcaldy Galleries, so it was fitting that some of his earliest works were exhibited there in recent years.
"Jack was also a philanthropist for a number of important causes and I know his loss will be sorely felt by many across Scotland and the world."
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also paid tribute, posting on social media: "Very sad news. Jack Vettriano was an iconic Scottish artist. My thoughts are with his family and friends."