Andrew Scott was born into an established Fen farming family and quite expected a future in farming. He developed an interest in the stock side (a herd of Aberdeen Angus ) and this was enhanced when he spent some time with his local vet in March during the late 1950s.

He gained a place at the Royal Veterinary College qualifying in 1965.

He joined a practice in Towcester and then to a mixed practice in Essex. Here he became interested in veterinary politics serving as a councillor and then President of the Essex Veterinary Society. Following this he was elected to the British Veterinary Association Council as their representative. While At the BVA he sat on various committees and for 5 years chaired the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation. He was then elected onto the BVA Executive as vice president and then president in 2001-2.

In his spare time he enjoys book collecting (veterinary texts, calligraphy and Ronald Searle), classical music and the visual arts