A long-standing arts correspondent at a flagship daily title is to leave the newspaper after 24 years.

Brian Ferguson, pictured, has announced that next week will be his last as The Scotsman’s arts correspondent.

Posting on X, he said he was taking a “brief break to rest up and recharge” before returning to journalism in an as-yet-undisclosed new role.

Brian’s departure has been described as a “huge loss” for the National World-owned Scotsman, which axed a number of other specialist editorial roles last August.

Wrote Brian: “After 24 years writing for The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News, I have decided it is time for some new challenges.

“I am going to take the opportunity to have a brief break from work to rest up and recharge before returning to Scottish journalism and Scottish culture.

“It has been a real honour and I feel very fortunate to have written for these titles over such a long period of time. I couldn’t begin to count how many terrific journalists I have learned from and watched develop over the years.

“I’ve had some unforgettable experiences covering Scottish culture full-time over the last 12 years and look forward to returning to the beat.

Responding to the news, Scottish investigative journalist Martyn McLaughlin posted: “Scotland’s arts sector hasn’t had its challenges to seek in recent years, but consider how much worse the situation would have been without Brian’s tireless work beating the drum for its practitioners and holding those in power to account.

“A huge loss to The Scotsman.”