Jack Vettriano: "The Singing Butler" (1992), reproduction on canvas

Scottish painter Jack Vettriano is Britain's most popular and sought-after contemporary artist: the rich and famous are on the long waiting list for his latest works, and his collectors include international stars such as Jack Nicholson. At the same time as David Beckham, he received the Order of the British Empire from the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Born in 1951, Vettriano celebrated his breakthrough in 1988 when he showed his paintings at the Royal Scottish Academy's annual exhibition. The works sold out after the first day. In the following years, his paintings matured, and collector interest steadily grew. In 2004, his most famous painting to date, "The Singing Butler," was auctioned for over 1,000,000 euros. His works can be seen at numerous exhibitions in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Vettriano's paintings are simultaneously realistic and dreamlike, like scenes from old films, novels, or his own memories. The artist prefers to depict scenes from the 1920s and 1930s, when the economy, technology and society reached unprecedented heights: a time of legends that was abruptly ended by World War II.