Arts minister wants to put Vettriano into cultural frame

Published on Monday 27 August 2007 01:42

CULTURAL recognition has always eluded Fife-born painter Jack Vettriano despite his international success, but now his work is being championed by one of the most powerful figures in the arts.

Linda Fabiani, the culture secretary, is to ask the self- taught artist to lend one of his paintings to hang in her office.

She hopes the move will encourage the arts establishment into accepting that their refusal to recognise Vettriano's talent is born of snobbery.

The artist has been dismissed by critics as dim erotica, without real merit. But his most famous work, The Singing Butler, sold in 2004 for almost 750,000 and is now the biggest-selling poster in Europe, netting him 500,000 a year in royalties.

Yesterday a spokesman for Vettriano said he would consider the approach from Ms Fabiani.

If agreed, his painting would be displayed in the Scottish Executive building at Victoria Quay, alongside work by other well-known but less controversial Scots artists and art school graduates. It would be hung so as to be seen by consuls and diplomats from around the world who formally visit the offices when starting and finishing their postings to Edinburgh.

Fabiani, who is also minister for Europe and external affairs, is said to believe that Vettriano - a former colliery worker from Methil - could be one of Scotland's greatest cultural ambassadors.

A source close to Fabiani was quoted as saying: "Linda firmly believes that his commercial and popular success should not be seen as incompatible with an artistic appreciation of his work.

"Her attitude is that art needs a market as well as being an aesthetic pursuit.

"She thinks Vettriano has a place in the Scottish arts world as valid as anybody else's."