Rare Vettriano to be auctioned for charity

A rare sketch by Scottish artist Jack Vettriano is to be auctioned in support of student charities at the University of St Andrews.

A retrospective of The Singing Butler, Vettriano’s most iconic painting which sold for 744,800 in 2004, will be auctioned by Sotheby’s at their Gleneagles sale on August 26th 2008. Vettriano an honorary graduate of St Andrews gifted the sketch to the University after he gave a master-class to students in 2003.

The work was undertaken in one hour for demonstration purposes and is now estimated to fetch between 15,000 and 20,000 at auction. Proceeds from the sale will go the St Andrews Students Charities Campaign which supports a wide and diverse range of local, national and international charitable causes. Last year St Andrews students raised a record breaking 160,000.

Mr Vettriano and University Principal Dr Brian Lang agreed the sketch should be offered to the students after hearing of their record breaking fund raising efforts. The original Singing Butler still holds the record for any painting sold at auction in Scotland.

Andre Zlattinger, Senior Director and Head of Scottish Art at Sotheby’s, said: “We are very excited to be handling the sale of this retrospective sketch of Jack Vettriano’s The Singing Butler on behalf of the University of St Andrews. The sketch captures one of Jack’s most iconic images and will, Im sure, have huge appeal to collectors around the world.

“Over the years, weve had the privilege of handling the sale of a study for The Singing Butler (in 2003) and the painting itself in 2004 the latter still holds the record for any painting ever sold at auction in Scotland.”

The Singing Butler image is recognised and loved all over the world. Jenny Mackay, University of St Andrews Students Association Director of Development and Activities said: “We were all elated when Jack Vettriano’s painting was made available to raise even more for all our worthwhile causes that we support, ranging from Maggie’s Cancer Centre Fife to Nyumbani Children’s Home in Kenya.

“Students at St Andrews have a proud record in raising funds for charity and this gives our efforts a huge boost.”

Prior to the sale, the painting will be on show in St Andrews and can be viewed at the Fraser Gallery, 53 South Street, St Andrews from Sunday August 17th until Thursday August 21st 2008.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Mr Vettriano hosted the master-class event in St Andrews in 2003 as part of a charity campaign to inspire the next generation of artists. He also established an endowment in 2004 which funds a student to attend the University. A Jack Vettriano Scholar will be appointed every four years with the second taking up their studies in September 2008. This follows his financial contribution towards the transformation of the Students Associations Old Union Coffee Bar in 2002 and his involvement in high profile student fashion shows of which he was Patron.

Images of the sketch are available from Gayle Cook, Press Office – call 01334 467227.

Issued by the University of St Andrews
Further information: Niall Scott, Director of Corporate Communications, tel 01334 462244, mobile 07711 223062, e-mail [email protected]