Self-taught painter Jack Vettriano dies in France at age 73

LONDON (AP) — Scottish painter Jack Vettriano, recognized for his works depicting elegant women and men on dreamlike seashores, has been discovered lifeless in his condominium in France, his publicist stated Monday. He was 73.

British media reported there have been no suspicious circumstances surrounding his dying on Saturday.

Vettriano, born Jack Hoggan in Fife, Scotland on Nov. 17, 1951, was a self-taught artist who created a few of the world’s most recognizable modern work.

His 1992 portray “The Singing Butler” — that includes a pair in night gown dancing on a storm-swept seashore as their butler and maid proffered umbrellas — grew to become a best-selling picture in Britain.

In 2005, elusive avenue artist Banksy primarily based a satirical portray titled “Crude Oil (Vettriano)” on “The Singing Butler,” including a sinking oil liner and two figures lugging a barrel of poisonous waste to the composition to ship an environmental message.

Vettriano left faculty at 15 to change into a mining engineer however took up portray after a girlfriend gave him a field of watercolors for his twenty first birthday. His breakthrough got here in 1998 when he submitted two work to the Royal Scottish Academy’s annual present. Each bought on the primary day.

Though some artwork critics dismissed his work, he loved business success and held exhibitions in London, Hong Kong, New York and elsewhere. Actor Jack Nicholson and lyricist Tim Rice had been amongst those that acquired Vettriano’s work.

“Jack Vettriano’s passing marks the end of an era for contemporary Scottish art,” his publicist stated in a press release. “His evocative and timeless works will proceed to captivate and encourage future generations.”