Scottish painter Jack Vettriano, best known for his painting The Singing Butler, has died at the age of 73

His publicist said the artist was found dead at his apartment in Nice, in the south of France, on Saturday.

It is understood there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Vettriano, who was born Jack Hoggan on 17 November 1951 in Methil, Fife, was a self-taught artist.

He left school at 16 years of age to become a mining engineer.

For his 21st birthday, he was given a set of watercolour paints and, from then on, he spent much of his spare time teaching himself to paint.

He went on to become one of the best known Scottish artists.