Jack Vettriano's exhibition history spans more than three decades, from his early shows in Edinburgh in the early 1990s to major exhibitions in London, Monaco, New York and Glasgow.
Although Vettriano's first solo exhibition was held in Edinburgh in 1992, he had already exhibited his work alongside other artists. Over the following years, his exhibitions charted the development of his distinctive style and introduced many paintings that would later become among his best-known works.
This guide brings together a chronological list of Jack Vettriano exhibitions, including his early exhibitions, solo shows, international exhibitions and major retrospectives.
For collectors, the exhibition history is particularly interesting because many paintings first shown at these exhibitions were subsequently reproduced as Limited Edition prints. Where relevant, we have highlighted some of those connections.
Jack Vettriano Exhibitions at a Glance
| Year | Exhibition | Location |
|---|
| 1991 | A Contrast of Styles | Edinburgh |
| 1991 | The Art of Rugby | Edinburgh |
| 1991 | Tales of Love & Other Stories | Edinburgh |
| 1992 | God's Children | London |
| 1993 | Fallen Angels | London |
| 1993 | Summers Remembered | London |
| 1994 | Chimes at Midnight | London |
| 1995 | A Date With Fate | Edinburgh |
| 1996 | The Passion & The Pain | London |
| 1996 | Halfway to Paradise | Hong Kong |
| 1996 | The Bluebird Collection | Private Collection |
| 1997 | Studies & Small Paintings | Edinburgh |
| 1998 | Between Darkness & Dawn | London & Kirkcaldy |
| 1999 | International 20th Century Arts Fair | New York |
| 2002 | Paintings 1994-2002 | London |
| 2004 | Affairs of the Heart | London |
| 2004 | Fonetography | London |
| 2006 | Love, Devotion & Surrender | London |
| 2008 | Tension, Timing & Triumph | Monaco |
| 2008 | Sports Portraits | London |
| 2009 | Homage a Tuiga | Monaco |
| 2010 | Days of Wine & Roses | Kirkcaldy & London |
| 2011 | The Ballroom Spy | London & Bristol |
| 2013-14 | A Retrospective | Glasgow |
| 2022 | The Early Years | Kirkcaldy |
Together, these shows provide an insight into the development of Vettriano's work and the paintings that became important to his career and to collectors.
Jack Vettriano's Early Exhibitions: 1991–1995
Before Jack Vettriano became known internationally, he was exhibiting his paintings in Scotland and beginning to establish himself as a professional artist.
A Contrast of Styles
Date: 9–31 August 1991
Location: Solstice Gallery, Edinburgh Festival
A Contrast of Styles was a joint exhibition featuring paintings by Joan Renton and Jack Vettriano. This was the 3rd exhibition of Vettriano's work but the first to bear his as a lead artist.
The exhibition took place at the Solstice Gallery in Edinburgh and included paintings such as Discovered and Mad Dogs and....
It is particularly interesting to collectors because it predates Vettriano's first solo exhibition and provides an insight into his work during the early years of his professional career.
"Discovered" by Jack Vettriano
The Art of Rugby Exhibition
Date: 9–31 August 1991
Location: Solstice Gallery, Edinburgh Festival
Vettriano turned to an unusual subject for The Art of Rugby Exhibition, which coincided with the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
Among the works associated with the exhibition was Eluding the Tackle, demonstrating that Vettriano's subject matter was not yet confined to the romantic and cinematic scenes for which he would later become famous.
"Elluding the Tackle" by Jack Vettriano
Tales of Love & Other Stories
Date: 15 May–6 June 1992
Location: The Edinburgh Gallery, Edinburgh
Thirty-six paintings were exhibited, including Waltzers and the lesser-known A Kind of Loving. The Picnic Party was also exhibited, and both The Picnic Party and Waltzers were subsequently released as Limited Edition prints.
The exhibition marked an important stage in Vettriano's development. Rather than being presented alongside other artists, his work was now given an entire exhibition of its own.
For collectors, this exhibition is particularly significant because of the number of early paintings associated with it and because an original catalogue from the exhibition is now a sought-after piece of Vettriano memorabilia.
"A Kind of Loving" by Jack Vettriano
God's Children
Date: 2–11 October 1992
Location: The Mall Galleries, London
God's Children was Vettriano's first exhibition in London.
Thirty-seven paintings were available, including The Singing Butler, Busted Flush and Angel. Some of the paintings had previously been offered at Tales of Love & Other Stories.
The appearance of The Singing Butler is particularly notable. The painting would go on to become Vettriano's most recognisable image and one of the defining works of his career.
"Angel" by Jack Vettriano
Fallen Angels
Date: 12–20 May 1993
Location: Catto Gallery, London
Fallen Angels featured 29 paintings, comprising six oil paintings on board and 23 oil paintings on canvas.
Works included Working the Lounge and The Star Cafe.
The exhibition was later associated with the publication of a book under the title Fallen Angels, making the exhibition an important part of the record of Vettriano's early career.
"The Star Cafe" by Jack Vettriano
Summers Remembered
Date: 12 November–3 December 1993
Location: Corrymella Scott Gallery
Summers Remembered featured 25 original oil paintings by Vettriano.
The exhibition was opened by Valerie Singleton and included paintings such as The Innocents.
The Corrymella Scott Gallery had an established association with Scottish art, making the exhibition another important stage in Vettriano's growing reputation in Scotland.
"The Innocents" by Jack Vettriano
Chimes at Midnight
Date: 12 October–1 November 1994
Location: Portland Gallery, London
Chimes at Midnight was held at the Portland Gallery in London, which had represented Vettriano from 1993.
Paintings included The Trap, Yesterday's Dreams and The Billy Boys.
The exhibition is significant because The Billy Boys would become one of Vettriano's best-known paintings.
"Yesterday's Dreams" by Jack Vettriano
A Date With Fate
Date: 17–27 August 1995
Location: Edinburgh, during the Edinburgh Festival
Forty paintings were displayed at A Date With Fate, held in a townhouse in Edinburgh during the Edinburgh International Festival.
The exhibition was opened by Sir Tim Rice and brought together a mixture of nostalgic and more provocative paintings.
Works included Sweet Bird of Youth and The Perfectionist, showing the breadth of Vettriano's subject matter at this point in his career.
An original catalogue from A Date With Fate is now an interesting piece of Vettriano collecting history.
"Sweet Bird of Youth" by Jack Vettriano
"The Perfectionist" by Jack Vettriano
Jack Vettriano Exhibitions: 1996–2000
The second half of the 1990s saw Vettriano's reputation continue to grow, with exhibitions in London, Edinburgh, Hong Kong and New York.
This was also an important period for paintings that would subsequently become Limited Edition prints.
The Passion & The Pain
Date: 17 May–15 June 1996
Location: Portland Gallery, London
The Passion & The Pain was an important exhibition in Vettriano's development and featured a large collection of new paintings.
Among the works exhibited were The Big Tease, Sweet Bird of Youth (Study), Back Where You Belong, The Parlour of Temptation and Winter Light and Lavender.
Several of these paintings were subsequently reproduced as Jack Vettriano Limited Edition prints, creating an important connection between the original exhibition and the secondary market for Vettriano prints.
This is one reason exhibition history can be particularly valuable to collectors: a painting that appeared in an exhibition may later become an important image in Vettriano's print catalogue.
"Beach Babes" by Jack Vettriano
"Dressing to Kill" by Jack Vettriano
Halfway to Paradise
Date: 1996
Location: Museum Annex, Hong Kong
Halfway to Paradise was held at the Museum Annex in Hong Kong and featured 32 oil paintings on canvas.
Among the works available was Dancer for Money, which was subsequently released as a Limited Edition print.
Dancer for Money has since become one of the more sought-after Vettriano Limited Editions, making its appearance in the 1996 exhibition particularly interesting to collectors.
"Dancer for Money" by Jack Vettriano
The Bluebird Collection
Date: 1996
Location: Private collection
The Bluebird Collection is slightly different from the conventional gallery exhibitions in this list.
The seven paintings were inspired by the life and achievements of Sir Malcolm Campbell and his famous Blue Bird land-speed record attempts.
The paintings were originally commissioned by Sir Terence Conran for his Bluebird Club in London.
The seven Bluebird images were subsequently released as a Limited Edition boxed set in 2010 to mark the 75th anniversary of Campbell's final land-speed record at Bonneville.
Studies & Small Paintings
Date: 8–23 August 1997
Location: Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh Festival
Studies & Small Paintings was another Edinburgh Festival exhibition featuring Vettriano's work.
Thirty-three paintings were exhibited.
The Singing Butler was included in the exhibition but was not for sale, while Night Geometry was available for £2,950.
The exhibition provides an interesting snapshot of the value placed on Vettriano's original paintings during the 1990s.
"Night Geometry" by Jack Vettriano
Between Darkness & Dawn
Date: 10 June–10 July 1998, London
Date: 1 August–6 September 1998, Kirkcaldy
Locations: Portland Gallery, London; Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery
Between Darkness & Dawn was Vettriano's fifth solo exhibition under the representation of the Portland Gallery.
Thirty-six paintings were offered for sale.
The exhibition included several paintings that have since become particularly recognisable, including The Letter and Seven Heaven.
The exhibition was also significant because it was subsequently presented in Vettriano's home region at Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery.
"The Letter" by Jack Vettriano
"Seven Heaven" by Jack Vettriano
The International 20th Century Arts Fair
Date: December 1999
Location: New York
Vettriano exhibited at the International 20th Century Arts Fair in New York alongside artists from around the world.
Paintings associated with the show included Suddenly One Summer, Tango Dancers and A Strange and Tender Magic.
The exhibition demonstrates the growing international interest in Vettriano's work before the turn of the millennium.
"Suddenly One Summer" by Jack Vettriano
Lovers & Other Stangers
Date: 10 June–18 July 2000
Location: Portland Gallery, London
Lovers & Other Strangers featured 36 paintings.
The exhibition was accompanied by a book of the same name, as well as a Limited Edition book.
Paintings included Valentine Rose, Heat Wave, Beautiful Losers II and An Imperfect Past.
The exhibition marked the end of an important period in Vettriano's career, shortly before his move from Scotland to London.
"Heatwave" by Jack Vettriano
Jack Vettriano Exhibitions: 2001–2006
During the early 2000s, Vettriano's exhibitions continued to attract attention in both the UK and internationally.
The International Art & Design Fair
Date: September–October 2001
Location: 7th Regiment Armory, Park Avenue, New York
The International Art & Design Fair was scheduled to take place in New York from 29 September to 2 October 2001.
Vettriano was due to exhibit 20 original paintings, including Model in Westwood and Only The Deepest Red II.
Following the events of 11 September 2001, the New York fair was cancelled. The planned Vettriano exhibition was instead held at the Portland Gallery in London.
Paintings 1994 - 2002
Date: 22–26 May 2002
Location: Art London, Duke of York's HQ, Kings Road, London
Vettriano exhibited 21 paintings at Art London, primarily studies.
The works included a study for Fetish and Only The Deepest Red II.
The prices recorded for the paintings provide an interesting historical reference for collectors. A study for Fetish was offered at £9,500, while Only The Deepest Red II was priced at £25,000.
Affairs of the Heart
Date: 19 June–31 July 2004
Location: Portland Gallery, London
Affairs of the Heart was a major exhibition of 33 original paintings held at the Portland Gallery in London in 2004.
The exhibition is particularly significant to collectors because a number of the paintings displayed went on to become important Jack Vettriano Limited Edition prints.
Among the paintings exhibited were Along Came a Spider, Baby Bye Bye, His Favourite Girl, Just Another Day, Pincer Movement and The Great Poet. Each of these paintings was subsequently released as a Limited Edition, and all have since become sought-after images among collectors of Vettriano's work.
The exhibition also gave its name to the Affairs of the Heart set of Limited Edition prints, comprising eight images from the exhibition. Together, the individual Limited Editions and the complete Affairs of the Heart set make this exhibition particularly important in the history of Vettriano's Limited Edition print releases.
For collectors, Affairs of the Heart is therefore more than simply another exhibition in Vettriano's career. It represents a significant point where a group of original paintings exhibited together subsequently became some of the most recognisable and collectible Limited Edition prints associated with the artist.
An original Affairs of the Heart exhibition catalogue is also an interesting piece of Vettriano collecting history, documenting the paintings shown at the exhibition.
"Along Came A Spider" by Jack Vettriano
Fonetography
Date: 2004
Location: London
Fonetography was a charity exhibition in aid of Mencap, sponsored by Nokia in association with The Times Magazine.
A number of prominent artists and photographers participated, including Jack Vettriano, Damon Albarn, David Bailey, Sir Peter Blake, Tracey Emin and Nan Goldin.
The artists were given Nokia camera phones and asked to "capture the moment".
Although this was not a conventional solo Vettriano painting exhibition, it is an interesting part of his wider exhibition history.
Love, Devotion & Surrender
Date: April–May 2006
Location: Portland Gallery, London
Love, Devotion & Surrender reflected Vettriano's increasing connection with the South of France.
Vettriano had acquired a studio there, and a number of the paintings were inspired by his experiences in the region.
Works associated with the exhibition included Her Secret Life, Hotel Negresco, La Fille à la Moto and The Temptress.
Her Secret Life was subsequently released as a Limited Edition to celebrate the exhibition.
"Hotel Negresco" by Jack Vettriano
Jack Vettriano Exhibitions: Monaco and the French Riviera
Vettriano's move towards a more continental lifestyle became increasingly evident in his work during the late 2000s.
Tension, Timing, Triumph
Date: May 2008
Location: Monaco
Tension, Timing, Triumph – Monaco 1971 was a triptych of paintings commemorating Sir Jackie Stewart's third victory at Monaco.
The paintings told the story of Stewart's 1971 Monaco Grand Prix victory and celebrated an important period in the Scottish driver's Formula One career.
The triptych was unveiled by HSH Prince Albert of Monaco at a private reception at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco.
Sports Portraits
Date: October 2008
Location: Bonhams, London
Vettriano was one of a group of artists invited to paint a portrait of a famous sporting personality.
The project involved Sir Peter Blake, Rankin, Gerald Scarfe, Stella Vine and Jack Vettriano, with the process forming part of a BBC documentary.
The resulting portraits were displayed at Bonhams in London.
Homage a Tuiga
Date: September–October 2009
Location: Yacht Club de Monaco, Monaco
Homage à Tuiga was inspired by the centenary of Tuiga, the world-famous yacht associated with the Yacht Club de Monaco.
Rather than simply depicting the yacht itself, Vettriano's paintings explored the lifestyle and world surrounding it.
Paintings associated with the exhibition included Morning News and Lounge Lizards.
A Limited Edition boxed set was subsequently released containing four of the images from the collection.
This exhibition marked an important period in Vettriano's work, when Monaco and the French Riviera became increasingly prominent influences.
Days of Wine & Roses
Date: 27 March–2 May 2010
Location: Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery, Kirkcaldy
Days of Wine & Roses brought together 41 paintings inspired by Vettriano's experiences in Monaco and Nice, alongside some of his more familiar interior scenes.
The Homage à Tuiga paintings were shown as part of the exhibition, alongside works including Night Calls and Morning News.
The exhibition later travelled to Vettriano's own Heartbreak Publishing gallery in London.
The Ballroom Spy
Date: May–June 2011, London
Date: July–August 2011, Bristol
Locations: Heartbreak Publishing, London; Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
The Ballroom Spy was a collaboration between Jack Vettriano and photographer Jeanette Jones.
The exhibition combined 40 of Jones's photographs with 12 paintings by Vettriano.
Vettriano interpreted Jones's black-and-white photographs through his own visual language, placing the dancers into the glamorous, cinematic environments for which he was known.
The exhibition included paintings such as Anniversary Waltz and The Morning After.
The collaboration demonstrates another side of Vettriano's work and his continuing fascination with dance, movement and the world behind the ballroom
"The Morning After" by Jack Vettriano
Jack Vettriano: A Retrospective
Date: 21 September 2013–23 February 2014
Location: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
Jack Vettriano: A Retrospective was the first major retrospective of Vettriano's work and became one of the most significant exhibitions of his career.
More than 100 original paintings were brought together from private collections around the world, allowing visitors to see many of Vettriano's best-known works in one place.
The exhibition was a major public success, attracting more than 136,000 visitors during its run.
For many people, this was the definitive opportunity to see Vettriano's paintings together rather than as individual works reproduced in books or prints.
The retrospective also produced an exhibition catalogue containing reproductions of the paintings shown.
For collectors who could not attend the exhibition, the catalogue remains an important piece of Vettriano memorabilia and provides a lasting record of the exhibition.
Jack Vettriano: The Early Years
Date: 17 June–23 October 2022
Location: Kirkcaldy Galleries, Kirkcaldy
Originally planned for 2020, Jack Vettriano: The Early Years was postponed because of Covid-19 restrictions and eventually took place at Kirkcaldy Galleries from 17 June to 23 October 2022.
The exhibition focused on Vettriano's early career and included paintings dating from his younger years.
Of particular interest were works created before he became a full-time artist, including paintings signed with his birth name, Jack Hoggan.
The exhibition provided an unusual opportunity to see works from the earliest stages of Vettriano's career and to understand how his style developed before he moved to London in 2000.
For collectors, The Early Years is especially significant because it brought together works that had rarely, if ever, been seen publicly before.
Jack Vettriano Exhibitions and Limited Edition Prints
One of the most interesting aspects of Vettriano's exhibition history is the relationship between his original paintings and the Limited Edition prints that followed.
A number of paintings first displayed at exhibitions were later reproduced as Limited Editions, allowing collectors to own an image that had originally been seen as an original oil painting.
Examples include works associated with:
- The Passion & The Pain
- Halfway to Paradise
- Affairs of the Heart
- Love, Devotion & Surrender
- Homage à Tuiga
- The Ballroom Spy
This connection is particularly useful when researching the history of a Vettriano Limited Edition. The exhibition in which the original painting first appeared can provide valuable context about the image, its date and its place within the artist's career.
For collectors, an exhibition catalogue can also be an important source of information. Original catalogues often contain reproductions of paintings that are otherwise difficult to find today.
Why Jack Vettriano's Exhibition History Matters to Collectors
An exhibition is more than simply a date and a location. For an artist such as Jack Vettriano, exhibition history provides a record of how his work developed and which paintings were considered important at different stages of his career.
It can also help collectors understand the origins of individual Limited Edition prints.
Some Vettriano paintings became widely known through reproduction, while others remained relatively obscure despite appearing in important exhibitions. In some cases, paintings shown decades ago later became particularly desirable as Limited Edition prints.
The exhibition history can therefore add another layer of provenance and context to a Vettriano collection.
Simply Jack Vettriano has specialised in Vettriano's work for more than 20 years and has built a collection of original exhibition catalogues and other historical material relating to the artist.
Jack Vettriano Exhibition Catalogues
Original exhibition catalogues are an important part of Vettriano collecting.
They provide a snapshot of the artist's work at a particular point in his career and can contain paintings, exhibition details and images that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Our collection includes catalogues relating to exhibitions including Tales of Love & Other Stories, God's Children, Fallen Angels, Summers Remembered, Chimes at Midnight, A Date With Fate, The Passion & The Pain, Halfway to Paradise, Between Darkness & Dawn, Lovers & Other Strangers, Affairs of the Heart, Days of Wine & Roses and A Retrospective.