News Release

Giant Greek athletes created to celebrate Olympic year.

Nick Elphick, the North West based artist and sculptor, recently completed his latest commission, to produce four 10ft high Greek athletes, in preparation for a rarely performed opera based on the Olympics.

Garsington Opera is an annual event staged in June and is based at Wormsley, home of the late philanthropist Sir John Paul Getty II. This year, the event takes place just weeks before the official opening of the London 2012 Olympics and, in celebration, Vivaldi's L'Olimpiade will be performed. The opera is set near Olympia on the day of the ancient games, and Nick's creations - four 10ft Greek Olympic figures, cold-cast in bronze - will play an integral part in the stage set's design.

‘It's been exhilarating, exciting and exhausting, all at the same time,' said Nick. ‘The timescales were really quite tight and to be honest I have been up against it. There is still a little more work to be done but I am delighted with the finished sculptures.'

This work follows Elphick's acclaimed commission to produce a 5ft high bust of the Queen's Head, in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

‘We have just received a letter from Buckingham Palace which said the Queen had seen the sculpture and she sends her best wishes for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations,' commented Nick. ‘My main aim for the QEII sculpture was to make the Queen feel proud and for it to be the best likeness to her as possible and all that she represents.'

He continued: ‘2012 has been an amazing year so far. I feel privileged and honoured to have had the opportunity to create the face of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and now these huge Greek athletes in Olympic year.'

Bronze maquettes -10inch miniatures - of the Greek athletes are also being produced and will be available to purchase by the general public. For further information please visit www.nickelphicksculpture.com

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Editors note: For more information on this subject, or to arrange interviews, please contact Simon Plumb at The SPA Group on 01925 755590, or 07799 403121 or simon@spa-group.co.uk