Devon pub landlord painted by artist behind Prince and Princess of Wales portrait
Simon Dafforn-Jones, the Devon pub landlord, has been painted by artist Jamie Coreth, who also created the official joint portrait of Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales. The portrait will go on display at the Saatchi Gallery in London from October 28 to November 1.
A Devon pub landlord has been painted by the artist behind the first official joint portrait of Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales.
Simon Dafforn-Jones, known to locals as Slugger, runs the Ferry Boat Inn at Dittisham, near Dartmouth. His portrait, by Jamie Coreth, will go on display at the Saatchi Gallery in London from October 28 to November 1.
Coreth painted the joint portrait of the couple in 2022, when they were the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. He has also painted HRH Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent.
The portrait is part of Local Royalty, a campaign by Coca-Cola Great Britain recognising the contribution independent businesses make to their communities. Mr Dafforn-Jones is one of four owners featured. The others run a convenience store, a café and a takeaway, and were painted by Nick Bashall, Nicky Philipps and Gareth Reid, who have painted Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III respectively.
Mr Dafforn-Jones grew up just down the road from the pub, which sits on the banks of the River Dart and is known locally as the FBI. He has run it for almost 20 years after taking it over with his father. He has brought on local teenagers in the hospitality trade, and champions produce from across the region.
He said being chosen was “a huge honour” and that he wanted to share it with every member of staff who had helped build the pub. “It means a lot that this recognition will shine a light on our little corner of the region too,” he said.
Coreth said that “honouring everyday people is a continuation of the same tradition that portrait painters have engaged in for centuries”. When he visited the pub, he said he understood why Dafforn-Jones had been chosen, describing it as “an appealing place to go and spend some time, and clearly a central part of the local community”.
Each business owner will receive their finished portrait and a donation to a local charity of their choice. Mr Dafforn-Jones has chosen Dart RNLI, which operates a 24-hour volunteer search and rescue service covering the Dart Estuary, up to Totnes, and out to sea along the Devon coast.
New research from Coca-Cola Great Britain found that 79 per cent of the public believed independent business owners were underappreciated for their contribution to local communities, and 87 per cent said such businesses were an essential part of life in Great Britain.
Dusan Stojankic, vice president and general manager of Great Britain and Ireland at Coca-Cola, said independent businesses were “the backbone of modern Britain”.
The exhibition is the third instalment of the company’s campaign celebrating its independent retail partners, following The Bosses and Counter Cultures.