Jack Vettriano facts for kids

Jack Vettriano, born Jack Hoggan on November 17, 1951, was a Scottish painter. He passed away on March 1, 2025. He was famous for his unique painting style, often showing scenes of romance, mystery, and a feeling of looking back at the past.

Vettriano taught himself how to paint. He became well-known around the world with his 1992 painting, The Singing Butler. This painting became one of the most popular art prints sold in the UK.

His artworks often looked like movie scenes with special lighting. They usually showed people dressed elegantly in interesting or private settings. Even though he was very successful, some art critics had mixed feelings about his work. They sometimes said it was too emotional or too popular. Still, he remained a very loved artist, and his paintings sold for high prices.

Vettriano's art was shown in important places like the Royal Academy of Arts in London. He was also honored for his contributions to art. His influence went beyond just painting. His artwork appeared in books, movies, and other parts of popular culture.

Early Life and Art Beginnings

Jack Hoggan was born on November 17, 1951, in Methil, a town in Scotland. He grew up there in a simple miner's house. From age 10, he worked various jobs to earn money, like delivering papers and milk.

He left school at 15 and later became an apprentice mining engineer. In the 1970s, he started painting as a hobby. A girlfriend gave him a set of watercolours for his 21st birthday. His first paintings were copies of Impressionist works, like Claude Monet's The Poppy Field near Argenteuil. He learned a lot by studying paintings at the Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery.

In 1987, at 36, Hoggan decided to focus on his art. He moved to Edinburgh and started using his mother's maiden name, Vettriano. He tried to study Fine Art at the University of Edinburgh, but he was not accepted.

Painting Career

In 1988, Vettriano showed two paintings at the Royal Scottish Academy annual show. Both paintings sold on the first day. Soon, many art galleries wanted to work with him. He had more exhibitions in Edinburgh, London, Hong Kong, and Johannesburg.

In November 1999, Vettriano's art was shown in New York City for the first time. Twenty-one of his paintings were displayed at The Armory. Many collectors from the UK traveled to the event. Twenty paintings were sold on the first night.

In 1996, Terence Conran asked Vettriano to create paintings for his new Bluebird Gastrodome in London. These seven paintings were inspired by the life of Malcolm Campbell, a famous speed record holder. They were displayed for 10 years. Later, these "Bluebird" paintings were sold at auction for over £1 million. The most expensive one, Bluebird at Bonneville, sold for £468,000.

Art Prices

New paintings by Vettriano usually cost between £48,000 and £195,000. His 1992 painting, The Singing Butler, became the best-selling art print in Britain. On April 21, 2004, the original The Singing Butler painting sold at auction for £744,500. Interestingly, it had been rejected by the Royal Academy summer exhibition in 1992.

In April 2010, some of Vettriano's paintings did not sell well at an auction. Art experts then suggested that the value of his works might need to be re-evaluated.

Studios and Publishing

Jack Vettriano had art studios in Scotland and London. From 1993 to 2007, he was represented by the Portland Gallery in London. Famous people like Jack Nicholson and Alex Ferguson collected his art.

Several books have been published about Vettriano's work. The most recent one, Studio Life, came out in March 2008. In February 2009, Vettriano started his own publishing company, Heartbreak Publishing. He also opened his own gallery in London, also called Heartbreak. This gallery showed only his work and also promoted new artists.

In March 2010, an exhibition called Days of Wine And Roses opened at the Kirkcaldy Museum. The exhibition later moved to Vettriano's gallery in London.

Personal Life

Jack Vettriano spent his time between homes in London, Kirkcaldy, and Nice, France. In November 2004, he was given an OBE honor.

He enjoyed gambling on horses but only bet what he could afford to lose. He also set up the Vettriano Trust. He planned to leave his money to this trust to support good causes.

In 2022, he shared that two younger women from Eastern Europe helped him overcome some personal challenges. They also inspired him to paint again.

Death

Jack Vettriano was found deceased at his apartment in Nice, France, on March 1, 2025. He was 73 years old. His publicist announced his passing two days later, on March 3. Local news reported that there were no suspicious circumstances around his death.

Art Commissions

In January 2012, the menswear brand Stefano Ricci launched a new collection. Their campaign was inspired by Jack Vettriano's art. The collection's catalog featured Vettriano's images and photos that looked like his paintings.

In 2017, Vettriano was one of three artists asked to paint portraits of Scottish comedian Billy Connolly. This was to celebrate Connolly's 75th birthday. These portraits were shown in Glasgow's People's Gallery. The images were also turned into large murals in the center of Glasgow. Vettriano's mural is on Dixon Street. A BBC Scotland documentary about it aired on June 14, 2017.

In 2018, the "Room with a View" gallery in Worthing displayed 30 of Vettriano's paintings. Art dealer Jane Hill admired that Vettriano was "self-taught."

Artistic Style

Vettriano taught himself how to draw and use perspective in his art. He used paint in a special way, creating soft layers and meaningful shadows. His style has been compared to artists like Edward Hopper. Many of his paintings tell a hidden story. They have mysterious scenes that can inspire many short stories.

Collaborations

Vettriano worked with author Ian Rankin and the Scottish band Saint Jude's Infirmary. They made a video for BBC Scotland's The Music Show. The video was filmed on Portobello Beach and included scenes from Vettriano's famous paintings. Vettriano even created the cover art for the band's second album.

In May 2008, Vettriano worked with Jackie Stewart, a famous race car driver. They created three paintings called Tension, Timing, Triumph – Monaco 1971. Prince Albert of Monaco showed these paintings for the first time. The original paintings are in Stewart's private collection.

Vettriano also created paintings to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Tuiga. This is the flagship yacht of the Yacht Club de Monaco. The paintings were shown in an exhibition called Homage à Tuiga.

He also collaborated with Italian photographer Fredi Marcarini and photographer Jeanette Jones on various projects and exhibitions.

More recently, Vettriano worked with Stephen Anderson to launch Jack Vettriano Gin. This spirit product features four of his paintings on the bottles.

Helping Others

In 2004, Vettriano started a scholarship at University of St Andrews. This scholarship helps students who might not otherwise be able to attend university. He also helped fund the refurbishment of the Students Association's Old Union Coffee Bar in 2002. The university awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters.

Vettriano donated several artworks to be sold for charity. These included donations to the Terrence Higgins Trust and Help the Hospices. In 2008, a drawing he made sold at an auction to help the Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw Gallery stay open.

He also donated a portrait of Zara Phillips, called Olympia, to Sport Relief in 2008. It sold for £36,000 at auction. In 2010, he created a postcard for a British Airways campaign for Sport Relief.

Also in 2010, Vettriano helped raise money for the Elephant Family conservation group. His elephant sculpture, The Singing Butler Rides Again, sold for £155,000. He also created the official Christmas card for Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond. The original painting and prints raised £86,000 for four Scottish charities.

Awards and Honors

In June 2003, the University of St Andrews gave Vettriano an honorary Doctor of Letters. They recognized him as one of Scotland's leading contemporary artists.

Vettriano was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003. This was for his services to the visual arts. He received his honor at Buckingham Palace on November 27, 2003.

In 2004, the Open University also gave Vettriano an honorary degree, Doctor of the University.

On March 24, 2010, Jackie Stewart presented Vettriano with the Great Scot of the Year award. This led to a motion in the Scottish Parliament to recognize Vettriano's contribution to Scottish culture.

In February 2011, Vettriano's self-portrait The Weight was displayed at the re-opened Scottish National Portrait Gallery. This was the first time his work was shown in a national gallery.

In February 2012, his most famous painting, The Singing Butler, was shown at the Aberdeen Art Gallery. It was part of an exhibition called From Van Gogh to Vettriano.

In September 2013, a large exhibition called Jack Vettriano: A Retrospective opened at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. It featured over 100 of his artworks.

In 2015, a private collection of 12 of Vettriano's works sold for a total of £837,900 at an auction in Edinburgh.

Books About Jack Vettriano

• Fallen Angels, edited by W. Gordon Smith, Pavilion Books, October 1999 (ISBN: 978-1-86205-364-9).
• Lovers and Other Strangers, text by Anthony Quinn, Pavilion Books, October 2003 (ISBN: 978-1-86205-630-5).
• Jack Vettriano: A Life, text by Anthony Quinn, Pavilion Books, October 2004 (ISBN: 978-1-86205-646-6).
• Studio Life, foreword by Ian Rankin, photographs by Jillian Edelstein, text by Tom Rawstorne, Pavilion Books, March 2008 (ISBN: 978-1-86205-743-2).
• Women in Love, Pavilion Books, May 2009 (ISBN: 978-1-86205-855-2).
• A Man's World, Pavilion Books, May 2009 (ISBN: 978-1-86205-856-9).

See also

In Spanish: Jack Vettriano para niños