ONE of Scotland's most famous restaurants wants regulars past and present to feature in a new mural.

The Ubiquitous Chip, a Glasgow dining institution, has commissioned Glasgow School of Art graduate Michael Lacey to produce a new mural – 40 years after artist Alasdair Gray captured likenesses of the restaurant's then regular diners.

The eatery's owners are asking people who have a strong connection with the West End or 'the Chip', as it is affectionately known, to come down this Sunday for a chance to appear in the artwork.

Michael has already started on his work at the Ashton Lane restaurant. It is due to be unveiled in the New Year.

Michael is the only artist other than Lanark author Gray to be invited to create a piece of work for the building since it opened in 1971. Both are graduates of Glasgow School of Art.

The 26-year-old, originally from Liverpool, said: "It's an amazing boast to be on the list as one of the two artists who have painted murals at the Chip.

"This is my first big commission since I graduated in 2009 – I've got a spring in my step coming in to paint it every day."

Michael was approached to paint the mural by Chip owner Colin Clydesdale and his partner Carol Wright following a stint working as a waiter at the couple's other restaurant, Stravaigin, while still a student.

Carol, 51, said: "We wanted something on the other side of the building to Alastair's mural.

"We wanted it to keep the ethos of the Chip, which is very Scottish with quirky bits, and that's what Michael is doing very well. He's following in the footsteps of Alasdair.

"We've seen the same faces coming into the Chip for years so we wanted to put them on the wall."

The artwork is part of the restaurant's 40th anniversary celebrations, which also saw a 3D-animated mural installed by Gray earlier this year.

Gray's original mural, Florid Jungle, was painted in 1976. A second, called Arcadia, can be seen in the restaurant's back stairwell and features Chip staff and local faces from the 70s. He completed the first stage in 1981 before returning in 2001 to add some extra characters.

Owner Colin said: "The Chip mural's have always been a living history of Glasgow's West End and – like Alasdair's – Michael's work will be a talking point for decades."

The free open session will take place in the upstairs bar of Ubiquitous Chip, in Ashton Lane, from 6.30pm on Sunday.

rachel.loxton@ eveningtimes.co.uk