Terence Cuneo sculpture unveiled

The bronze sculpture, which was unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal in October 2004, provides a lasting memorial to the artist's work. Created by sculptor Philip Jackson, who has been responsible for many landmark British sculptures of recent years, the statue stands in London's Waterloo station, overlooking Waterloo International Terminal. The view of railway traffic would have been a familiar one to the artist, who is best known for the magnificent works of railway art that he produced throughout his life.

The son of acclaimed artist Cyrus Cuneo, Terence Cuneo studied at the Slade School before starting a career in commercial illustration. He struggled initially to establish himself under the shadow of his father's reputation, but numerous commissions for the quality magazines of his time helped to develop his artistic skills quickly, and after WWII, he was commissioned to produce a series of historic prestige posters for British Rail.

As well as historic steam trains, Terence Cuneo painted modern trains, including the Eurostar. He was also the official artist for the Coronation painting for HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and he produced numerous works on military, industrial, agricultural and equestrian themes.

Celebrated for the controlled composition of his canvases and his great comprehension of detail, Terence Cuneo's work also had a whimsical edge; often expressed through his trademark portraits of the mouse, including mice-musicians, and mice railway personnel.

The statue to Terence Cuneo was made possible by the Terence Cuneo Memorial Trust, who also intend to endow an ongoing annual prize for the Slade's best undergraduate student, in memory of the artist. Miss Veronica Smirnoff was the first student to be awarded the prize.

Image: The Princess Royal and sculptor Philip Jackson unveil the sculpture of artist Terence Cuneo at London's Waterloo station.

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Link: Slade School