What started as a simple village art purchase three decades ago has turned into a small fortune for one lucky family.
A painting bought for just £300 at a local arts festival in Scotland has now been valued at a whopping £10,000 after appearing on Antiques Roadshow.
The artwork, titled “Deck Chairs,” is an early piece by renowned Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, whose distinct, nostalgic style later made him one of Britain’s most beloved painters.
A Family Treasure With a Personal Touch
The current owner revealed that the painting had been in their family for years, originally bought by their parents during the early 1990s at the Pittenweem Arts Festival in Fife — long before Vettriano became a household name.
They were drawn to the piece not just for its charm but because the couple in the painting reminded them of their own relatives.
“My parents thought it looked like my dad and his cousin, Aunt Molly,” the owner shared on the BBC show, smiling at the personal connection the artwork carried.
From Village Fair to National TV Spotlight
When Antiques Roadshow expert Charlotte Riordan examined the oil painting during the show’s visit to Hill of Tarvit Mansion in Fife, she immediately recognized Vettriano’s unmistakable style.
The artwork depicts a sharply dressed couple strolling along the beach, carrying brightly coloured deck chairs — a perfect example of the artist’s love for romantic, cinematic storytelling through paint.
Riordan explained that the painting captured Vettriano’s transition from his early experiments to the more refined style that would later define his career.
She described it as “a beautiful composition — exactly the kind of scene you’d expect from Vettriano.”
Remembering Jack Vettriano’s Artistic Journey
Vettriano’s death earlier this year at the age of 73 in his apartment in the south of France left the art world mourning one of its most distinctive voices.
Born Jack Hoggan in 1951 in Methil, Fife, he grew up the son of a miner and left school at 15 to work as a mining engineer.
His path changed forever when a girlfriend gifted him a box of watercolours for his 21st birthday — the spark that led him into painting.
Despite his massive popularity, Vettriano’s relationship with the art establishment was often strained.
Critics frequently dismissed his work, though the public adored it.
“He was one of Britain’s best-loved artists by the general population, but not always highly regarded critically,” Riordan noted.
Fame, Fortune, and a Touch of Controversy
Vettriano became a global name after his 1992 masterpiece “The Singing Butler” took the world by storm.
The painting, which portrays a couple dancing on a stormy beach while a butler and maid look on, broke records in 2004 when it sold for £744,800 at Sotheby’s — far exceeding its asking price.
Over the years, his works have found their way into the collections of celebrities like Jack Nicholson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Tim Rice, and Robbie Coltrane, further cementing his legacy as a painter who resonated deeply with both the elite and the everyday viewer.
A Life Remembered Beyond the Canvas
In the wake of his passing, friends and admirers have painted a portrait of a man who was both gifted and deeply human.
His close friend Remi Akande recalled how the artist had become more withdrawn in recent years, shaken by harsh criticism that he felt undermined his confidence.
Still, Vettriano’s impact stretched across continents, with exhibitions held in Edinburgh, London, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, and New York.
Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, summed up the nation’s sentiment best, saying Vettriano “made a unique and evocative contribution to artistic life in Scotland.”
The Unexpected Legacy of “Deck Chairs”
As for the lucky family who unknowingly owned a valuable piece of art history, their story is a perfect example of how time can transform the value of creativity.
What was once a sentimental family treasure is now a work worth thousands — and a small part of the lasting story of Jack Vettriano, the self-taught artist who captured moments of quiet romance in ways that continue to speak to the heart.