A baker whose business was the subject of a painting submitted for the annual Charman Prize has been given a copy of the watercolour she inspired.

Malisa Swan, the owner of The Bermuda Cake Company, received a giclée print of one of her Palmetto Road businesses, The Snowball Shack, from artist John Gardner.

Mr Gardner’s painting of the Pembroke business was entered into the 2023 Charman Prize hosted by Masterworks where it received an honourable mention.

Ms Swan said: “The painting is adorable, and also beautiful. I look forward to working with John on future endeavours.”

Mr Gardner said that The Snowball Shack caught his eye last summer as the shop was being repainted from blue to hot pink.

He noted that the shack was once a car repair shop that was repurposed into the sweet treat stand.

Mr Gardner said: “I believe it to be important in the context of this work to acknowledge the energy and inspiration for this work, without which it would not have caught my eye or been painted.”

He added: “The painting now occupies a wealthy and privileged environment which is remote to the geography and context of The Bermuda Cupcake Company.

“By giving back, I wish to honour and respect the source material and personal effort that created it. I wish Malisa and The Bermuda Cupcake Company great success.”

Mr Gardner said that his painting highlighted the striking nature of The Snowball Shack, which he described as being “once seen, not forgotten”.

The watercolour, according to him, shined a light on beautiful hidden things around the island, and forced the viewer to “see” and not just “look”.

Mr Gardner added: “The Snowball Shack’s bold presence, small and isolated, is a symbol of and a metaphor for Bermuda’s struggle for its deserved place in the world.”