Kyle and Carrick Civic Society recently gifted two historic paintings to South Ayrshire Council’s collection.

The gifts were presented at a ceremony at Rozelle House Museums and Galleries on Monday, February 5.

Councillor Alec Clark, South Ayrshire Council’s portfolio holder for Tourism, Culture and Rural affairs, said: "We’re delighted to have received this generous gift of two paintings from the Kyle and Carrick Civic Society.

"These contain rich South Ayrshire history dating back as far as the eighteenth-century, and we’ll be proud to display them as part of our Collection at Rozelle."

Previously owned by the Hunter-Blair family of Blairquhan Castle at Straiton, the first painting, from 1818, portrays Sir David Hunter-Blair.

He was the second son of John Hunter from Ayr who later became Sir James Hunter-Blair after marrying Jean Blair in Wigtownshire in 1770.

The second painting, dated 1730, is of Anne Cunninghame, mother of Sir James Hunter Blair, and grandmother of Sir David Hunter Blair.

Identified at auction by local author and historian Rob Close, a member of the civic society, the purchase and donation of the paintings to the council was facilitated by Michael Hitchon, chairperson of the civic society.