Vettriano staged scenes using models and photographed them before painting, with his work often evoking the mood and style of the 1940s and 1950s.
His paintings became known for their storytelling qualities, exploring themes of romance, glamour, love and betrayal.
His breakthrough came in 1988 when two paintings submitted to the annual exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy sold on the first day.
Vettriano was soon offered gallery representation and held his first solo exhibition in Edinburgh in 1992, before gaining international recognition through shows in London, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and New York.