Painter and teacher, born in Prestonpans, East Lothian. He studied at Edinburgh College of Art, 1962–8, and was awarded an Andrew Grant Scholarship and one-year postgraduate study, David Murray Landscape Award and Travelling Scholarship to Italy. He went on to teach painting and drawing at Edinburgh College of Art. Fairgrieve was a member of RSW and was president of SSA in 1978. Birds, animals and the natural world featured strongly in his pictures, which were shown widely in Scottish group exhibitions. One-man shows included New 57 Gallery and Scottish Gallery, in Edinburgh, and Mercury Gallery in London and Edinburgh. Scottish Arts Council and many other Scottish collections hold his work. Lived in Gordon, Berwickshire.