LONDON.- British sculptor Martin Jennings has been appointed to create the sculpture of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for the UK’s national memorial in St James’s Park.

Millions of Brits will already have seen Jennings’ work, as he’s celebrated for creating a bust of the Queen Mother in St Paul’s Cathedral and the first crowned coinage portrait of King Charles III.

He has also crafted statues of Philip Larkin in Hull, Mary Seacole in London’s St Thomas’ Hospital, and the ‘Women of Steel’ in Sheffield.

The sculptor, appointed by Foster + Partners in consultation with the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, is tasked with creating an enduring national landmark that commemorates the UK’s longest-reigning monarch.

A recommendation for the final design will be put to His Majesty The King and the Prime Minister next year, alongside proposals for the wider memorial site.

Committee Chair Robin Janvrin said: “On behalf of the Committee I am delighted that we have selected Martin Jennings to create the Queen Elizabeth sculpture. We felt he had a very sensitive understanding of the significance of this unique commission and we were impressed by Martin’s previous work and his ability to capture the essence of character in public works of art.

We look forward to working with Martin and the Foster + Partners team in the months ahead.”

Founder and Executive Chairman of Foster + Partners, Norman Foster, said: “I am pleased to welcome Martin Jennings to the Queen Elizabeth Memorial team. His work has a sensitivity and humanity that align well with the fundamental spirit of the project, and I look forward to working together with Martin and the rest of the team in the coming months.”

Martin Jennings said: “I am elated to have been invited to make the sculpture of Queen Elizabeth. She was loved and admired across the globe for her steadfast devotion to duty, borne with grace, decency and restraint.

“The monument must not only reflect the grandeur of its setting but be an object of delight to its countless visitors in years to come. I look forward to working with Foster + Partners and the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee so that we can achieve this together”

The appointment of Martin Jennings follows previous decisions to award Foster + Partners the project and to locate the memorial in St James’s Park, a site chosen for its rich Royal history and its personal connection to The late Queen.

The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee will continue to work closely with Martin Jennings and Foster + Partners to develop the final design recommendations.