Dance me to the end of Love, described by critics as his most famous painting after The Singing Butler, has already set the art market alive with some experts predicting it could even smash the £750,000 record for one of Vettriano’s works.

The artist’s last beach painting, it will be auctioned in Edinburgh next March, but will go on display for a limited period in the capital’s Harvey Nichols store from next week.

Last night, Richard Longwill, director of Edinburgh-based auction house Shapes, who is handling the sale, described it as an amazing coup for Scotland. He said: “In terms of recognition and popularity, it is on a par with The Singing Butler if not over it.

“This is the first time the painting has really been shown to the general public. For years it has been squirrelled away in a private house in England.

“For all the controversy surrounding Vettriano in recent weeks, he is a survivor, and there is no doubt he does have a special quality that he brings to art.

Shapes auctioneers is hoping for a price in the region of £500,000. But some experts say that it could beat the £750,000 achieved for The Singing Butler last year.

Dance me to the end of Love will be sold at Shapes auctioneers on March 4, 2006.

Posted: 12|19|05 at 9:26 am. Filed under: UK News.