Born in 1932 in Dundee, Alex Coupar was educated at Dens Road and Morgan Academy. He always wanted to be a photographer and joined DC Thomson after leaving school as a press photographer, eventually specialising in theatre work and  magazine features.

In 1953 he served his National Service with the Royal Air Force School of Photography where he was a publicity photographer, returning in 1955 to Dundee and DC Thomson. Apart from taking photographs for news stories, Alex worked closely with the Dundee Repertory Theatre, producing production and publicity photographs.

Leaving DC Thomson in 1966, Alex set up his own studio. Working freelance with the press, he also built a reputation within advertising, as a portrait photographer and maintained his relationship with Dundee Rep.  His studio, Spanphoto, became known as one of Scotland’s premier photographic firms. Alex closed Spanphoto in 2000, but he continues to use his camera to record life around him