The sale of artwork from former First Minister Alex Salmond’s 2014 Christmas card has raised £7,000 for charities.
Money raised from the painting by Aviemore-based artist Ann Vastano will be split between Cairngorm Mountain Rescue and the Mary Salmond Trust which supports youth organisations in the north-east.
Entitled “Yonder Harthill’s silent towers, Where at moonshine midnight hours”, the artwork shows a snowy Harthill Castle, near Oyne in Aberdeenshire, at night and draws inspiration from Robert Burns’ poem “Ca’ the Yowes”.
The painting sold for £5,600 and the total raised was boosted further by the sale of three limited edition prints which took the total to £7,000.
The auction at the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen on Friday was overseen by actress and comedian Elaine C Smith.
Mr Salmond, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, said: “As a scene from Aberdeenshire the image on this year’s card by Ann Vastano had a particular significance.
“It is a stunning painting and I am delighted that it has raised a fantastic £7,000 which will be donated to support children’s causes in the north-east as well as Cairngorm Mountain Rescue.
“Since 2007, the trust I established in my late mother’s name has supported 239 youth and community organisations and I am delighted that groups, from girl guiding to disability or befriending schemes, will continue to benefit.
“Ann Vastano is best known for her Highland landscape painting and so it is entirely fitting that Cairngorm Mountain Rescue, who provide a vital lifeline service, are also to benefit from the auction.”
Mr Salmond, who served as first minister between 2007-14, has raised more than £168,000 for good causes by auctioning off the artwork that adorned his official Christmas cards.