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Artist portrays 'awe-inspiring' TfL worker

Wendy Hurrell & James W Kelly
BBC London
BBC Jack, left, and Rizwan stand beside a vibrant, mosaic-inspired portrait of Rizwan in an elegant room with chandeliers and floral arrangements.BBC
Artist Jack Dickson, left, paid tribute to Rizwan Javed with a portrait

Rizwan Javed, a worker on Transport for London's Elizabeth line has saved 29 people from taking their own lives since 2015.

Now artist Jack Dickson has captured Mr Javed's "humility and dignity" after they were brought together as part of BBC One's Extraordinary Portraits programme.

Presented by Bill Bailey, it pairs artists with people who have powerful stories.

Mr Javed said taking part was "emotional and rewarding" - and Dickson described his subject's actions as "awe-inspiring".

The pair did not meet until the cameras started rolling and Dickson began observing the transport worker to get a sense of who he was, ahead of beginning the painting.

Jack stands in a busy train station, holding a notebook and pencil, appearing focused. He wears a patterned shirt, a grey jacket, and carries a backpack, with a camera strap over his shoulder.
Dickson observed Mr Javed during his work at an Elizabeth line station

"I had no idea what his story was or anything.

"It was a complete surprise. Everything they caught on camera was a genuine reaction."

Mr Javed said he was "really nervous" ahead of his first meeting with the painter.

"I my palms were sweating and I was like, 'I'm going to meet this guy, he's going to do a portrait of me, what's he going to be like?

"I have to spend x amount of time with him, am I going to want to share my story"Image of Derek Thomas, a man with dark dreadlocks wearing a blue t-shirt and sunglasses " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/>

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