ROMSEY War Horse artist, Amy Goodman, has unveiled the designs for her new Test Valley public art pieces in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, which are set to be installed next year.

Test Valley Borough Council originally commissioned the sculptures to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee earlier this year, but the artwork will now take on a new poignancy following Her Majesty’s death last month.

Amy, who created the Romsey War Horse for the War Memorial park, won the bid to design the two new artworks for the north and south of the borough to honour Her Majesty’s 70 years of service and local connections.

SEE ALSO: All you need to know as Andover's popular market returns this weekend

The designs are bronze ‘sister’ sculptures of Her Majesty. The first showing the Queen at her coronation, which will be located in Romsey, and the second, which is destined for Andover, depicts her later in life.

They will be unveiled separately as the artist will be making them consecutively, with the first statue due to be unveiled in late summer 2023, and the second in the autumn. Subject to securing the relevant permissions, the council is proposing to place the Romsey statue outside the Abbey, and the Andover statue is expected to be located at Vigo Recreation Ground.

Amy said: “Queen Elizabeth II has been a constancy in all our lives, and the outpouring of love, affection and respect from all over the world since she passed has been gratifying to witness. It is such an honour to be sculpting the two statues, and aside from creating two accurate and elegant portraits of her, I will look to the local community, from different generations, in the form of workshops, to help inspire designs I will inscribe on each of her robes that best and most poignantly reflect her reign.”

Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Cllr Phil North, said: “We commissioned these pieces to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and although they will now also sadly mark her passing, their purpose is still very much to celebrate her unwavering commitment to the country, the commonwealth and to all of us. Reminding generations to come of her extraordinary place in British history. 

READ MORE: £50k cost of living scheme created by council to help organisations supporting those in need

“Both statues are similar in concept linking both ends of the borough but with key differences making the pieces unique. As well as depicting Her Late Majesty at different stages of her life. The designs on the back of her robes and the locations of the artwork will reflect the relationship she had with Test Valley. In Romsey, as a young monarch - reflecting her connection with Broadlands where she spent her honeymoon and as Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, making the Abbey the ideal setting. Whereas in Andover, there is an opportunity to reflect her position as Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, which links perfectly with the town’s military connections.

“Amy is an amazingly talented sculptor and I look forward to seeing the finished pieces next year.”

Amy’s other sculptures include the Florence Nightingale and Gurkha memorials in Aldershot, Arborfield Horses, Pegasus and Bellerophon for the 16 Air Assault Brigade and The Aldershot Airborne Soldier.