The People - 10: Art Critics - 0

On a sopping wet Glasgow morning the butler, the uni student, his girlfriend and I were among crowds waiting for the 11.00 a.m. opening of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, to see the Retrospective Exhibition of the work of Jack Vettriano.

A trustworthy source told me that on the occasion of the special showing of this exhibition, not one of the usual group of art critics showed up . Such is the snobbery surrounding Vettraino! In a superb video interview, A L (Alison) Kennedy discusses the reasons and I tend to agree.

To enjoy Vettriano, you don't need a patronising explanation of brushwork or underlying symbolism from a critic whose preferred work is an unmade bed or a pickled calf. You just need to enjoy a story , bags of colour and light, a dash of elegance and some jolly spiffing erotica! People at this exhibition were loving it and talking to each other about their enjoyment! A friend overheard a wee wummin in the 'erotic' room say to her companion "He fairly likes suspenders, doesn't he?"

My non-singing butler and I loved the Bellany exhibition and learned a lot , but found it hard work and were aware of our own artistic ignorance all the way round. This morning we just loved the paintings; I want to be danced to the end of time; I'd like to be a temptress; the butler wants to hold a brolly and sing!

Stuff snobbery: long live joy! And wait til the art snobs see the figures for entry and for merchandising! It'll beat the records. Bet they'll think that's just too too common !

Thank you Jack!