Published: Thursday, 10th April, 2008 08:30
Painter’s tribute to the legendary Vettriano
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A DUNBAR painter and decorator has set aside his roller and brush to mimic the artwork of legendary Scots artist Jack Vettriano, in crayon and ink.
Jim Callow has imitated one of his favourite Scottish artists – renowned for his eye-catching work in oils – for an exhibition, entitled ‘On the trail of Jack – a tribute’.
More than 30 of his works are being showcased at the library’s Gibb Room this month.
The Little Pinkerton artist empathises with Vettriano who left school at 16 to become a mining engineer and took up art as a hobby in his twenties.
His breakthrough year was in 1988 when his two canvasses exhibited in the Royal Scottish Academy, sold on the first day.
Since then, Vettriano can count Jack Nicholson, Sir Alex Ferguson and Madonna among his many admirers – although he is is snubbed by many galleries across Scotland.
Mr Callow said: “I believe he has been badly treated in his own country and so this exhibition is a tribute to him but not a copy of his work.
“He is a working class lad who came up the hard way.”
The 62-year-old sees similarities between Vettriano’s early career in art and his own.
“I left school without any qualifications and got into art school by the back door. But after a year I had to pack it in because my dad took ill so I came back to help out the family.”
His day-to-day work in the building trade pays the bills. It’s more “lucrative” than a struggling career as an unsponsored artist, he said.
His exhibition is open until the end of the month, with prices ranging from £80-£150.
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