Vettriano attacks MSPs

Published on Saturday 15 March 2008 18:46

ARTIST Jack Vettriano has hit out at MSPs for wanting to borrow his paintings for buildings and offices.

In an interview with Scotland on Sunday, the painter said that Holyrood, having spent so much money on the new building and on commissioning art, could easily have bought some of his work rather than wanting to borrow paintings.

Vettriano said that he was angry after seeing reports that suggested that MSPs would like to have his paintings in offices or around the new Scottish Parliament.

Vettriano said: "The Scottish Parliament… how much did it cost? I don't know how much they spent on art, but they didn't spend any on my art, when they could have. This has happened twice with MSPs – they've asked to borrow, and I think, 'No, this is about you more than me.'"

A Scottish Parliament spokeswoman said that while MSPs had publicly flagged up the idea of having a Jack Vettriano work at Holyrood, the Parliament had never formally requested to borrow a painting.