The sculptor commissioned to create a statue of two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has revealed that he is employing a 23-year-old male athlete as a stand-in model to depict the tennis star in his younger years. David Williams-Ellis, selected to immortalize the Scottish champion, stated that he aims to portray Murray's athleticism and "softer side" in the "life-size plus a fifth" bronze sculpture.
The monument, which is currently nine months into its creation, will show Murray in mid-shot with a tennis racquet, balancing on one foot and in motion. Williams-Ellis, who has also worked with Murray and his wife Kim Sears on the project, noted that the tennis player is now 38 and has become "a bit gnarly." To accurately represent Murray in his prime, the sculptor is using a 23-year-old model named Joe. "Andy at 38 is a bit gnarly and the sculpture will represent Andy as a young man aged 23-25," Williams-Ellis explained.
He further elaborated on the challenges of finding a suitable model, noting that while Andy Murray is stocky and muscular, his stand-in is not as broad. Williams-Ellis has been meticulously studying around 150 photos and video screenshots of Murray, recreating poses frame by frame with his model. "What I want to capture in the sculpture is movement and energy and what I hope I will also capture is Andy's determination and also his incredibly nice soft side," he said.
The statue is intended to stand on a plinth in an undisclosed location at Wimbledon and is scheduled for unveiling in 2027, coinciding with the tournament's 150th anniversary. Williams-Ellis, known for his Normandy D Day landings sculpture, was chosen from an initial pool of ten artists. Murray himself has been involved in the process, posing patiently and discussing the design with the sculptor at his Oxfordshire studio.
"Andy's only concern was that it didn't end up like some of the sporting sculptures you see around at stadiums around the world," Williams-Ellis commented. The sculptor emphasized the importance of capturing both Murray's likeness and his distinctive style of movement, aiming for a figure that conveys a sense of ongoing motion. "When you're doing a sporting sculpture like Andy, you have to recognise him. There are two ways of doing that – his face and his body and the other way is his style of movement."
The initial work is being fashioned from approximately half a tonne of clay over a steel frame. Williams-Ellis described the practical difficulties, including managing the clay's moisture content in varying temperatures. Modern tennis shoes, with their complex computer-designed structures, have presented particular challenges. "They're not like normal shoes – it's the hardest pair of shoes I have ever had to do," he stated.
Murray's wife, Kim Sears, has been actively involved in the project, with the couple expected to review the sculpture's progress in the coming months. Williams-Ellis acknowledged the pressure of the commission, admitting to having "sleepless nights" over the need for an accurate likeness. He expressed a desire to avoid the pitfalls of less successful sporting sculptures, stating, "I don't want this to be one of those and I aim not to be."