Faith Winter (sculptor) facts for kids

Faith Winter (born Faith Ashe; 1927–2017) was a talented British sculptor. She was famous for creating statues and memorials. Many of her works honor military and historical figures in towns and cities across Britain.

About Faith Winter

Faith Winter was born in 1927 in Richmond, London, which is just outside London. She loved art and studied at two well-known schools: the Guildford School of Art and the Chelsea School of Art.

While she was still a student, Faith won an important award called the Feodora Gleichen prize from the Royal Society of Sculptors. This showed how skilled she was. Also, four of her sculptures were chosen to be shown at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. This was a big deal for a young artist!

Faith married an Army officer named Colonel Freddie Winter. Because of his job, they spent several years living and traveling in other countries. In 1973, they returned to England and settled in Surrey.

Her Famous Sculptures

After returning to England, Faith received two special requests, known as "commissions." These helped her become well-known for her portraits and public sculptures.

One of her first major works was a group of military figures called The Soldiers. You can find this sculpture at the Blandford Camp in Dorset. She also created a portrait bust (a sculpture of someone's head and shoulders) of Anne, the Princess Royal.

After these successes, Faith Winter received more requests for royal portraits. She also made many public statues of important military leaders. Two of her most famous statues are of Hugh Dowding and Arthur Harris. These impressive statues stand outside the church of St Clement Danes in London.

Exhibitions and Recognition

People could see Faith Winter's sculptures at special shows called solo exhibitions. She had one at the Guildford House Gallery in 2002 and another at Gallery 27 in 2005.

Faith was a member of the Society of Portrait Sculptors. In 1983, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Sculptors. This is a high honor for a sculptor.

Faith Winter had three children. Two of them, Alice and David, also became artists, following in their mother's footsteps!

Notable Public Works

Faith Winter created many important public sculptures that you can see in different places. Here are some of her well-known works:

• John Ray (1986): A statue of the famous naturalist John Ray, located outside the Braintree District Museum.
• Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding (1988): This bronze statue stands on The Strand in London. Lord Dowding was a key figure in the Battle of Britain.
• Sir Arthur Harris (1992): Another bronze statue on The Strand in London, honoring Air Chief Marshal Arthur Harris.
• Bishop George Abbot (1993): A statue of the former Archbishop of Canterbury, located on High Street in Guildford.
• General Władysław Sikorski (2000): This 4.5-meter-high bronze statue is in Portland Place, London. General Sikorski was a Polish military leader and politician.
• Sir Frank Whittle (2007): A statue of the inventor of the jet engine, located in Millennium Place, Coventry.

Other Sculptures

Faith Winter also created other beautiful and meaningful works:

• A sculpture of a child holding a carp for the Pearce Memorial fountain in Thame, Oxfordshire (1992).
• Memorial for the Liberation of the Falkland Islands, located in Port Stanley (1984).
• The 15 Mysteries of the Rosary, found in The Church of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, Richmond, London (1984).
• A Memorial Plaque – Mulberry Harbour Memorial in Arromanches, Normandy, France.
• Spirit of Youth, located in Dundas Park, Canada.

Images for kids

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  Statue of Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding in London.

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  Statue of Sir Arthur Harris in London.

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  Statue of Bishop George Abbot in Guildford.

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  Statue of General Władysław Sikorski in London.

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  Statue of Sir Frank Whittle in Coventry.