HRH Queen Elizabeth II & PRINCE PHILIP
Canterbury
NINA BILBEY MASTER CARVER
I had the honour of designing and carving two statues of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh for the West front of Canterbury Cathedral.
Made from La Voux French limestone, these sculptures were unveiled by the Royal couple in March 2015 and are the first sculptures in the UK to depict them as a couple.
“Nina has completed two substantial commissions for the Dean & Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral over the last decade, following up her new Royal Statues on the West Front (2014) with the delicate restoration of the C15 Our Lady Martyrdom (Deans’ Chapel) Angel Frieze (2024).
As Cathedral Architect, working with Nina is a joy – with deft skill and good humour, she immerses herself in the design journey that translates brief and vision into a built reality that is worthy of the commissions bestowed upon her.
Her work at Canterbury is sound testament to her talent.”
Jonathan Deeming
Partner, Purcell Architects, Surveyor of the Fabric, Canterbury Cathedral