Vettriano snubs golfer Montgomerie

There are many in the art establishment who turn their noses up at the Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, best known for his kitsch, semi-pornographic paintings. But when a chance arose for his work to hang among more critically-acclaimed talents at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, he claims he turned the offer down on the grounds that the subject of the proposed commission, the golfer Colin Montgomerie, was too much of an offence to his personal aesthetic.

Speaking at the Adam Smith College in Kirkcaldy, Vettriano, a former miner who taught himself to paint, explained how events unfolded: "I was in France when I got a call from my art dealer, who said there might have been a breakthrough. 'The National Galleries would like you to do a portrait.' I said, 'Who?' 'Colin Montgomerie'". When the penny dropped, Vettriano was aghast. "I have to paint a face I like. Have you seen Colin Montgomerie's face recently? I said, 'I'm afraid that the answer is no'."

Vettriano then revealed that it wasn't just Montgomerie's face he had difficulty with, but his body too. He added: "I don't do men with breasts and I don't mean that as unkind to Colin Montgomerie. My art dealer said, 'Think about it,' and I said, 'I have, and the answer is no,'"

It's a nice story, but the Scottish National Portrait Gallery disputes Vettriano's account. A spokesman told the Independent: "A few years ago, a suggestion was made to the NGS for a portrait but no formal approach was ever made by us to the artist." ·