HEXITEC originated in 2006 as an EPSRC-funded initiative to pioneer ‘colour X-ray’ imaging detectors, enabling fully spectroscopic imaging capabilities. Developed by STFC, the HEXITEC platform delivers world-class hard X-ray imaging performance, utilizing CdTe and CdZnTe materials to achieve <1 keV energy resolution across 80×80 pixel modules within the 3–200 keV range. These modules can be tiled for scalable systems, and multiple camera configurations have been realized. Over the past 15 years, the unique ‘colour X-ray’ capability has been explored in diverse applications, particularly nuclear medicine, including multi-isotope SPECT and targeted alpha therapy imaging. This talk will cover the challenges and journey from basic technology to pre-clinical scanners, showcasing results from collaborations with Royal Surrey County Hospital, University of Illinois, and MH3D Inc.