Jack Vettriano

Young Hearts, Portland Gallery London offset lithograph

2003

Jack Vettriano, born Jack Hoggan on November 17, 1951, in Fife, Scotland, is a renowned contemporary Scottish painter. He grew up in a working-class family and left school at 16 to become an apprentice mining engineer. His journey into art began at the age of 21 when his girlfriend gifted him a set of watercolor paints. Vettriano taught himself to paint by studying books and replicating their techniques. Initially signing his works as "Jack Hoggan," he adopted his mother’s maiden name, Vettriano, in the late 1980s. His career took a significant turn in 1989 when he submitted two pieces to the Royal Scottish Academy’s annual exhibition, both of which sold on the first day. This success led to more exhibitions and the subsequent rise in his popularity. Vettriano’s style is often characterized by its narrative and cinematic quality, frequently depicting scenes of romance, mystery, and noir glamour. His most famous work, "The Singing Butler" (1992), captures a couple dancing on a stormy beach, and it became one of the best-selling art prints in the UK. Despite commercial success, Vettriano has faced criticism from some art critics who regard his work as populist.