Celebrities in the frame to snap up Scottish art

Published on Saturday 23 August 2008 22:07

A HOST of celebrities are set to go head to head to snap up some of Scotland's greatest modern art treasures.

Sotheby's is hosting a high-profile auction of Scottish art - including paintings by Jack Vettriano and Peter Howson - which it predicts will raise more than 6m.

The London auction giant has revealed that a number of famous names are expected to join the bidding for the biggest art sale it has ever held north of the border. One of the most high-profile lots is a rare sketch of Vettriano's most famous work, The Singing Butler, which the Fife artist is selling to raise money for a student charity at St Andrews University.

The sale, which will take place at Gleneagles Hotel on Tuesday, will also feature works by the Scottish Colourists and the Glasgow Boys. The 260-lot event has received international attention, with previews in the Wall Street Journal and New York Sun.

Andre Zlattinger, Sotheby's head of Scottish Art, said: "This sale has really captured people's imaginations.

There have been a few high-profile names who have expressed an interest in the sale. Obviously, I can't name them because of client confidentiality.

"We have also sent out catalogues to Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York as well as to the National Galleries of Scotland, Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow and Aberdeen Art Gallery."

It is understood that the celebrities who have expressed an interest come from the entertainment and business fields. While sneered at by many in the art world, Vettriano is lauded by a host of famous figures who collect his work, including Jack Nicholson, Robbie Coltrane and Terence Conran.

Similarly Howson, a graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, has also attracted high-profile admirers, including Madonna, whom he famously painted nude, David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Sylvester Stallone.

Zlattinger said: "Jack Vettriano is a controversial figure and a lot of people like to slate his work, but the public and collectors absolutely love his paintings. We have had lots of interest in his work.

"There has also been a lot of interest in Peter Howson's paintings. I am confident he will do well on the night."

Nine Vettriano works are listed for auction, with the collection expected to raise more than 500,000. His Singing Butler sketch is expected to fetch 20,000.

Howson's often dark and harrowing works, including a self-portrait and two images of Jesus, are expected to raise around 600,000.