Art lover's work crafts out coveted New Year honour

A MIDLOTHIAN businessman and long-time supporter of the Scottish art scene has been recognised in the Queen's New Year Honours List.

Alastair Salvesen, who currently lives in Pathhead, was awarded a CBE for his services to arts and charity.

Mr Salvesen was born in Fife in 1941, but his family relocated to Midlothian when he was five.

He was educated at Fettes and subsequently trained as a chartered accountant in Edinburgh in 1960.

While a student, Mr Salvesen had spare time to indulge his passions for shooting, skiing and the Scottish countryside.

After qualifying in 1965, he undertook an MBA at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire.

Once he had completed his postgraduate studies, Mr Salvesen sought out a challenge and left the country to look for a job in Montreal, Canada, taking only 100 with him but, after three years, was tempted back to Edinburgh.

In 1979, he married his wife, Elizabeth, at St Giles' Cathedral, where his parents had also married.

From 1980, Mr Salvesen spent 12 years in Whitehaven in Cumbria, during which time he became a father to a son and daughter, and acquired his fish supplying firm Dawnfresh.

He settled back in Edinburgh for good in 1992 and made one of his most personal philanthropic gestures when he commissioned an organ for St Giles' Cathedral in memory of his parents.

A keen art fan, Mr Salvesen has been involved in various philanthropic projects throughout his career.

In 1988, he began a scholarship fund for young artists, supported by his charitable trust, which funds young Scottish artists to travel abroad.

It celebrated its 20th anniversary last year with a special exhibition held at the Dovecot Studios, which are supported by Mr Salvesen.

The studios specialise in Scottish tapestry, a passion of Mr Salvesen's, and were saved from closure in 2001.

Mr Salvesen has previously said of his work: "I think it is important that those who are doing reasonably well should help those with difficulties.

"It's also important to think of those that are moving up in the world.

"Their skills are sometimes totally hidden and it's important that they can show the world exactly what they've got."

Until last year, Mr Salvesen was also a governor of The Compass School in Haddington and Donaldson's School for the Deaf in Edinburgh, and is currently a deputy chairman at Fettes College.

He said of receiving the MBE: "It's a lovely surprise and I think it says a lot about the people that have helped me with all of my projects."