Artist Vettriano’s first work since breaking arm sells for £25,000

Tribute to comedy Love Actually donated for Red Nose Day

Scottish artist Jack Vettriano’s first work since suffering a freak accident nearly two years ago has sold for £25,000.

Mr Vettriano donated Love Actually – a spoof tribute to the movie – to an online auction for Red Nose Day with a minimum bid of £10,000.

It captures a reunion filmed for the charity fundraiser between Liam Neeson and the actor who played his son.

It was snapped up by an anonymous buyer who was among nine bidders.

Vettriano had been forced to give up painting after breaking his right shoulder when he tripped and fell at home in May 2015.

He admitted he faced a “long recovery period” and had to undergo regular physiotherapy sessions.

But to raise funds for Comic Relief he released Love Actually.

The film’s writer and director, Richard Curtis, brought the original stars of the movie back together in a special sequel for Red Nose Day. Vettriano even took part in the sketch – as part of the press pack.

A spokesman for his publishing company said: “Jack took part in the film reunion sketch and was given five or six stills from the film. He then worked from them. He is back working and this is the first original painting to be available since his injury.”

Born in 1951, Vettriano left school at 16 and did not take up painting full-time until the age of 40.

The artist, who grew up in Methil, Fife, first found fame in 1989 when two of his canvases submitted to the Scottish Royal Academy sold on the first day.

His work has since featured in exhibitions in Edinburgh, London and New York. He was made an OBE in 2003.

One of his most famous paintings, The Singing Butler, sold for £744,000 in 2004.

More than 123,000 people flocked to see a retrospective of his work at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow between September 2013 and February 2014, making it the most visited art exhibition at the institution.

And in 2015 a 12-strong collection of his paintings sold for more than £837,000 at auction in Edinburgh.

Actor Jack Nicholson and football legend Sir Alex Ferguson are among the owners of Vettriano’s work.

The picture shows actors Liam Neeson and Thomas Brodie-Sangster recreating a famous scene.

Jack Vettriano has sold works across the world and was made an OBE in 2003.