// BBC ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS — MODA & SOCIETÀ
Shopkeeper immortalised by royal portrait artist
Kaual Patel took over the shop from his father and uncle 20 years ago
A corner shop owner from south London has been painted by a royal portraitist in a project to recognise the impact of independent businesses in their local communities.
Artist Nick Bashall, who painted Princess Anne, has depicted Kaual Patel, owner of Torridon Convenience Store in Catford.
The work will be revealed to the public in a new exhibition, Local Royalty, alongside paintings by other royal artists of pub, cafe and takeaway owners.
The event was inspired by research that indicated nearly 80% of the public believed independent businesses such as corner shops are underappreciated.
The artist Nick Bashall said watching customers wondering what was going on "was great fun"
The exhibition depicts Patel alongside three other small business owners who have been immortalised in a manner historically reserved for royalty, titans of industry and stars of stage and screen.
He took over the shop from his father and uncle and has spent the past two decades creating a hub for the local community and championing local producers.
"The days I spent being painted by Nick, live in the shop, were unforgettable, but what made it truly special was seeing it through the eyes of my customers," said Patel.
Patel said: "This simply doesn't happen to an everyday shopkeeper"