Jack Vettriano, Scottish painter of bestselling 'The Singing Butler', dies at 74
Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, who was self-taught, has passed away. He was born in 1951 in Methil, Fife, and left school at the age of fifteen to pursue a career as a mining engineer before he began painting at twenty-one. His significant breakthrough occurred in 1989 when two of his artworks were sold at the Royal Scottish Academy's annual exhibition. Notably, his piece The Singing Butler achieved a Scottish auction record of £744,800 in 2004 and became the most popular art print in the UK. Despite his commercial achievements, he faced criticism from figures like Jonathan Jones and Eddy Frankel. In 2013, Vettriano showcased a retrospective at Kelvingrove Art Gallery. He battled mental health issues and addiction. A reimagined version of The Singing Butler by Banksy is scheduled for auction on 4 March 2025.
Key facts
- Jack Vettriano died in 2025 at age 74.
- He was a self-taught Scottish painter born in 1951 in Methil, Fife.
- His painting The Singing Butler sold for £744,800 at auction in 2004, setting a Scottish record.
- The Singing Butler is the UK's best-selling art print with over a million copies sold.
- Vettriano's breakthrough came in 1989 when two paintings sold on the first day of the Royal Scottish Academy's annual show.
- His work was criticized by art critics, including Jonathan Jones and Eddy Frankel.
- A 2013 retrospective at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow was the city's most successful commercial exhibition at the time.
- A Banksy reimagining of The Singing Butler will be auctioned at Sotheby's in London on 4 March 2025 with a £5 million estimate.
Entities
Artists
- Jack Vettriano
- Banksy
- Jonathan Jones
- Eddy Frankel
- Jack Nicholson
- Robbie Coltrane
- Alex Ferguson
- Tim Rice
- Alex Salmond
- Mark Hoppus
Institutions
- Royal Scottish Academy
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
- Guardian
- Herald
- Sotheby's
- Blink-182
Locations
- Methil
- Fife
- Scotland
- Glasgow
- Edinburgh
- London
- United Kingdom