A painting by Banksy previously owned by Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus has been sold at Sotheby’s for £4.3 million. The painting, titled Crude Oil (Vettriano), is a reimagining of Scottish artist Jack Vettriano’s most famous work, The Singing Butler (1992). The sale comes just days after Vettriano’s death at the age of 73.

The Singing Butler shows a couple in formal clothes dancing on a windswept beach, with a butler and maid standing nearby holding umbrellas. It is a recognisable painting to many and, when it sold in 2004 at Sotheby’s, it made the highest price for any Scottish artwork sold at auction at the time (£744,800). Despite Vettriano’s popularity – his paintings have been bought by Jack Nicholson, Sir Alex Ferguson and Robbie Coltrane to name just a few of his fans – critics have often been dismissive, describing his work as “brainless erotica” or “mere wallpaper”. In an interview, Vettriano explained that “they don’t like an artist who is as popular as me because it takes away part of their authority. If they want to ignore me, let them. I have what I want and that is the support of the public.” Vettriano has indeed been well-received by the public; his first major retrospective in 2013 at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow was deemed to be the most successful commercial exhibition ever held in the city. 

Banksy’s interpretation of Vettriano’s painting replaces the maid with two figures in yellow hazmat suits disposing of an oil drum. Banksy subverts Vettriano’s romantic scene by referencing themes of pollution, toxic waste and the climate crisis. Mark Hoppus purchased Crude Oil (Vettriano) in 2011. He said that “we [he and his wife] loved this painting since the moment we saw it. Unmistakably Banksy, but different. We bought it because we loved it. It’s borne witness to our family over these past dozen years.” He added that “this painting has meant so much to us and been such an amazing part of our lives, and now I’m excited for it to be out there in the world, seen by as many as possible. Go get ‘em. Godspeed.”

Vettriano’s publicist announced his death last week, saying that it “marks the end of an era for contemporary Scottish art”. First Minister John Swinney expressed his condolences on X, writing that “I am very sorry to hear the news that Jack Vettriano has died. He made a unique and evocative contribution to artistic life in Scotland in such a compelling style.”