John P. Coyne is a former structural engineer and diplomat with a postgraduate degree in international relations and a PhD in land economy. Now retired, he farms and improves the biodiversity of the original home farm for Tilquhillie Castle. A director of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, he is active in environmental matters and was a member of the Scottish Climate Assembly. He and his wife share a lifelong love of historic buildings; Tilquhillie is their fifth major restoration project.