Renowned artist found dead at his flat

Renowned Scottish creator Jack Vettriano has died astatine the property of 73, his publicist has said.

The creator was recovered dormant astatine his flat successful Nice, successful the southbound of France, connected Saturday.

It is understood determination are nary suspicious circumstances astir his death.

Vettriano was calved Jack Hoggan connected 17 November 1951 successful Methil, Fife.

He near schoolhouse astatine the property of 15 to go a mining technologist but took up coating aft a woman talented him a container of watercolours for his 21st birthday.

The self-taught creator learned his trade by copying aged masters, impressionists, surrealists and a plethora of Scottish artists.

He drew inspiration from works astatine Kirkcaldy Galleries, studying paintings from artists specified arsenic Samuel Peploe and William McTaggart truthful intently that helium feared arousing the suspicions of assemblage staff.

His breakthrough came successful 1998 erstwhile helium submitted 2 paintings to the Royal Scottish Academy's yearly amusement and some sold connected the archetypal day, inspiring him to go a full-time artist.

Vettriano's works garnered planetary acclaim, starring to exhibitions successful cities specified arsenic Edinburgh, London, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and New York.

His 1992 coating The Singing Butler is among his astir famed work, becoming a best-selling representation successful Britain. It shows an elegant mates dancing connected a storm-swept formation accompanied by their butler and maid.

In 2004, the coating sold astatine auction for £744,800 - a grounds astatine the clip for immoderate Scottish coating and for immoderate coating ever sold successful Scotland.

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Among those to person acquired Vettriano paintings are Hollywood fable Jack Nicholson, erstwhile Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, songwriter Sir Tim Rice, and precocious Harry Potter histrion Robbie Coltrane.

His publicist said successful a statement: "Jack Vettriano's passing marks the extremity of an epoch for modern Scottish art.

"His evocative and timeless works volition proceed to captivate and animate aboriginal generations."

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney was among those to wage tribute to Vettriano.

He said: "I americium precise atrocious to perceive that 1 of Scotland's best-known artists, Jack Vettriano, has died, and I privation to explicit my deepest condolences to his family.

"From humble beginnings arsenic a self-taught creator from Methil, Jack made a unsocial and evocative publication to creator beingness successful Scotland, rising to go a household sanction acknowledgment to iconic paintings similar The Singing Butler, which has graced the walls of homes and galleries astir the world.

"Born and raised successful Fife, overmuch of his aboriginal vulnerability to creation came from the Kirkcaldy Galleries, truthful it was fitting that immoderate of his earliest works were exhibited determination successful caller years.

"Jack was besides a philanthropist for a fig of important causes and I cognize his nonaccomplishment volition beryllium sorely felt by galore crossed Scotland and the world."

In a station connected societal media, Scottish Labour person Anas Sarwar said: "Very bittersweet news. Jack Vettriano was an iconic Scottish artist. My thoughts are with his household and friends."