The painstaking process to restore an iconic north-east statue will be completed early next year.
Ever since the mid-19th Century the effigy of Alexander Fraser, the 17th Lord Saltoun, has looked out on Fraserburgh’s Saltoun Square.
Fraser was known as “Waterloo Saltoun” after fighting in the Napoleonic Wars.
Sculptor Edward Stephen created the stone monument and it arrived in the port in 1859.
It has since taken pride of place above the door of the Saltoun Chambers, but with the centre in the middle of a major revamp the statue is getting its very own make over.
The former council chamber is being transformed into an enterprise hub to support fledgling businesses.
Moray-based stone conservator Karolina Allan has been working with the people behind the near £6milllion Fraserburgh 2021 regeneration scheme.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter
She has been tasked with restoring the face of the statue which has faded after taking a battering from the north-east weather over the years.
Mrs Allan has created a clay mould to replicate the original work carried out by Edward Stephen and this will be carved in marble to match the figurine.
She said it has not been an easy job and she has used portraits of Lord Saltoun to help finish off the restoration.
Mrs Allan said: “This is one of the most challenging projects.
“A marble statue with a lot of complex problems in the north of Scotland in an exposed location is a challenge for every conservator.
“I have analysed the artist’s work and gathered all the portraits of Lord Saltoun.
“Now I can just hope that I will tell a similar story and the faceless man will get the right looking kind of face back.”
Mrs Allan hopes to fully complete the statue restoration project by either January or February 2019. It is not known when the effigy will look out across Saltoun Square again.
Fraserburgh 2021 is a council-run scheme that aims to improve the port by offering money to local firms so they can improve their shop fronts.
It also aims to transform derelict buildings around the town centre.
In October work began to rejuvenate the Penny Schoolie and last month award-winning café Nooks and Crannies secured a grant to revamp its shop front.
