Four of Britain's leading royal portrait artists have turned their brushes from the Royal Family to everyday business owners, immortalising a café owner, pub landlord, takeaway proprietor and corner shopkeeper in a new exhibition.
The artworks mark 175 years since the birth of the modern British high street and will be unveiled at London's Saatchi Gallery as part of Local Royalty, a free exhibition celebrating the people keeping Britain's high streets alive.
Business owners get the royal treatment
Among those painted is Pindy Kaur, whose family-run Ocean Fish Bar in Barnsley has become a local institution. Having taken over the struggling takeaway in the 1990s, she has spent more than 25 years turning it into a favourite among customers. She was painted by Nicky Philipps, who has previously produced three portraits of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Philipps said: 'I wanted to keep the background to a minimum because this story is about a woman who feeds her locality with a generosity of spirit as well as keeping the community body and soul together over many years. Pindy is clearly the fish and chip queen of the north.'
In Catford, south-east London, corner shop owner Kaual Patel has been painted by Nick Bashall, who previously portrayed Princess Anne. Kaual has run Torridon Convenience Store since 2000, having taken over the family business bought by his father in 1984. Alongside everyday essentials, the shop champions independent producers, with Kaual promising: 'If you're a local producer, there's a space on my shelf for you.'
Generations of service celebrated
In Glasgow, Gino Verecchia, whose family has run University Café since 1918, has been painted by Gareth Reid, who previously portrayed King Charles III when he was Prince of Wales. The café's century-old gelato recipe and Scottish favourites have attracted customers including the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, who once sampled its battered haggis.
In Devon, pub landlord Simon Dafforn-Jones, known as 'Slugger' to locals, has been painted by Jamie Coreth, the artist behind the first official joint portrait of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Simon has run the Ferry Boat Inn in Dittisham for almost 20 years, following in his father's footsteps.
Coreth said: 'Honouring everyday people is a continuation of the same tradition that portrait painters have engaged in for centuries. As soon as I went and met Simon, saw this pub, I understood why he was chosen by Coca-Cola.'
Independent businesses underappreciated
The exhibition comes as new research suggests independent businesses are not getting the appreciation they deserve. Almost four in five Brits (79%) believe local business owners are underappreciated, while 83% think they face unprecedented challenges. And 80% want to see them celebrated more often.
A survey of 2,000 consumers found 87% consider them an essential part of British life, while 79% believe their communities would be worse off without them. Almost half (49%) would struggle to live without their local corner shop, followed by cafés (37%), takeaways (35%) and pubs (31%).
Dusan Stojankic, of Coca-Cola Great Britain and Ireland, said: 'Independent businesses are the backbone of modern Britain. This exhibition is an ode to the people who keep them thriving. Put simply, they are local royalty.'
Each business owner will receive their finished portrait and a donation to a local charity of their choice. The free Local Royalty exhibition commissioned by Coca-Cola GB runs at London's Saatchi Gallery from October 28 to November.
