Artist helps say ‘Hetty Birthday To You’ at cafe

A Highland Perthshire cafe has unveiled a new mural to celebrate their seventh anniversary.

Hettie’s Tearoom in Pitlochry, which aims to be the“Happiest Tearoom in the World”, recruited local artist Bev Nicol to mark the milestone as she was holding her first exhibition in the premises over the summer.

The mural of a stag required a couple of overnight painting sessions as the tearoom couldn’t be shut during the high season, but despite that, Hettie’s owners were delighted with the result.

Bev said:“I love painting freehand and just going with it, I wasn’t even sure what he was going to look like when I finished, and it took me ages to get the Hettie’s brand colours just right for him.

“There was no real plan. My work tends to be about happiness and empowerment - Hettie’s vision is to be the Happiest Tearoom in the World - so we are a good fit!”

Clare Pinchbeck, owner of Hettie’s Tearoom, said:“We are thrilled with our addition to the Hettie’s family, but he is yet to be given a name.

“Bev called him William the entire time she was creating him, but we think we will change that. Perhaps we will ask the customers.”

Hettie’s opened its doors in late July 2010, and since then they have served around 502,000 customers more than 405,000 cakes and scones and around 284,000 portions of soup.

Bev Nicol’s“The Daughter of the Stag”exhibition is on display at Hettie’s Tearoom until Christmas. Artist Bev Nicol, Hettie’s operations manager Heather Doyle and Pitlochry’s Rotary Citizen of the Year Meg Farron Pic David Brown