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Salmond sending Christmas wishes with wintry painting by 'Jolomo'

Colourful, populist, very Scottish, embraced by celebrities but scorned by the critics - the paintings of John Lowrie Morrison, "Jolomo", seem a perfect match for Alex Salmond.

The First Minister unveiled his first official Christmas card yesterday, from an original painting he commissioned of Linlithgow Palace in the snow.

The card shows a full moon shining brightly on the palace ruins and nearby St Michael's Church.

Mr Salmond is a member of the Church of Scotland, but hardly wears his religion on his sleeve in politics. The painting shows the town he grew up in, by an artist whose celebrity customers include the singers Madonna and Sting.

Morrison's work does not find favour with high-brow critics. But the Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser praised Mr Salmond for showcasing Scottish art.

More than 3,000 copies have been made into cards. Morrison has donated the work itself to the children's charity Who Cares? Scotland, which will auction it at a gala concert in May.

Full story at The Scotsman.