Vettriano displays artwork online

The online gallery includes previously unseen work plus old favourites

Scottish artist Jack Vettriano has displayed previously unseen paintings in an online gallery on his website.

He launched the site after splitting with the Portland Gallery in 2007. Other galleries have snubbed his work.

As well as the unseen items, the website will feature paintings from some of his major exhibitions.

The former coal worker, who is originally from Fife, said his work was online because he had no immediate plans to sign up to a gallery.

He said: "I'm often dragged into the debate about whether or not my work should be shown in public collections and whilst I feel that this is for others to decide, I'm delighted that fans of my paintings will now be able to see a body of work of which I'm very proud.

"I've had some very flattering approaches but I've no plans to join another gallery just yet. When I'm ready to announce my next exhibition, subscribers to my site will be the first to know."

Record sales

Vettriano has emerged as one of Scotland's most established contemporary artists, exhibiting in cities including Johannesburg, Hong Kong, London and Edinburgh.

Celebrities who are understood to have bought his work include the actor Jack Nicholson and singer Robbie Williams.

In 2005, he was forced to defend his use of illustrator's guides to produce some of his works.

Vettriano was awarded an OBE in 1993 for his services to the visual arts and in less than 15 years the value of his work has seen a huge increase.

The Singing Butler sold for �744,800, setting a record for a Scottish painting.

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