An Angus family began the agricultural adventure of a lifetime when they decided to follow their daughter into a career in sheep farming.
Kirsty Neil might be the youngest female sheep herder in Scotland at 15 years old, having only discovered a love for the animals last year.
Her parents Emma and Barry Neil, from Carnoustie, have helped Kirsty grow her passion into a possible career even before she has left school.
The Carnoustie High School pupil started with six lambs and six sheep in a field near the Panbride area of town, and now keeps 26 sheep and 31 lambs in two fields.
Mum Emma, 35, said: “Kirsty started out with six sheep and six lambs and already this year she has more than four times that.
“We’ve done our own lambing and most of the family have been involved,” she said.
“She wants to be a sheep farmer and officially leaves school on May 31.
“Kirsty didn’t get into college because she hasn’t got the grades, and none of the local farmers are quite willing to take her on because she doesn’t have much experience.
“So we are trying to do everything we can to support her in her choice.”
But Emma and Barry, 37, admitted the family have faced a steep learning curve as they are not from a traditional farming background.
“It’s an unusual thing for someone so young to do, and because she’s a girl, and we’re not from a farming family,” Emma said.
“We’ve been helped out a lot by the local sheep farmers, because we have to phone them and ask a lot of questions but they’ve been very supportive.”