AUTONOE The Nereid of the single mind. 

Hand cut slate relief carving with Gold leaf, graphite and wax.

Size: 30cm x 35cm

Artist

Nina Bilbey

Nina Bilbey comes from a family of Master Craftsmen. 

In 2017 she was awarded the Prince Philip Gold Medal. of Excellence for her contribution to craft and education, and shortly after was awarded the Honorary Fellowship of the City and Guilds Institute. 

Her work can be seen at Canterbury Cathedral where she has designed, carved and installed the statues of HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on the West Front, which she regards as one of the highlights of her career which spans more than 30 years. Elsewhere her work features at The Grand Hotel St Pancras Station, Southwark Cathedral, St Georges Chapel Windsor and Radnor Park Folkestone. 

From a young age she learned to respect the nature and practical limitations of natural materials and was taught the necessity of process and creativity in meeting that challenge, as well as the rationale behind the use of discipline and formal tool skills. 

“Through this you gain a design freedom that cultivates creativity through limitation. You learn to continually push your own professional practice through frustration. Learning through every new task how to solve a variety of problems and in doing so becoming a “better” designer and sculptor. It is I believe the first commitment you undertake when craft becomes your chosen career path and something that if you are lucky, gives you immense joy for the rest of your life.” says Nina Bilbey.