THE replacement sculptor for the commission of the statue of Ken Jones has shown her model to the committee for the first time.

Laury Dizengremel was chosen for the commission after offering to undertake the project at a fraction of the original price, for £28,500, significantly cheaper than the original offer of £95,000.

She said: “What was uppermost in my mind was what some are calling a triple dip recession.

It just wouldn’t be sensible to charge over the top prices.

“I am extremely happy that my quote was competitive enough to win the commission. I was totally up for the task even though I’ve had to delay two other commissions.”

The finished piece will need to be complete by the end of March, but Ms Dizengremel is not phased.

She said: “The timescale presents no challenge at all for my lyrical style of working.

“I am spending as much time on this Ken Jones sculpture as I did on my Roger Federer as a Tennis Terracotta Warrior for the Association of Tennis Professionals. Fact is, I like working fast and passionately.”

She has been putting in long hours and working through the weekends to get the job done.

Commenting on how she will capture Mr Jones perfectly, she said: “I’ve viewed footage of Ken many times and been in touch with archivist of the Welsh Rugby Union, Peter Owens, who has been very helpful with details of clothing.”

Ms Dizengremel has also sent photos of the work in progress to Mr Jones’ widow Irene and son Philip, and slowly they are inching closer to a vivid resemblance.

She said: “We’re not quite there yet, and I won’t stop until Philip and Irene are totally happy.

“In the end my Ken will be their Ken and the legendary Ken Jones which Wales is so rightly proud of.” Managing director of art consultancy service, Art Acumen, Catherine Thomas visited Ms Dizengremel at her studio last week.

The chairman of the Ken Jones committee, Stuart Evans, said: “We have had extensive images sent to the group showing the different stages of progression.

Attention to detail is crucial, so we have employed Catherine to oversee it.

“Weare impressed with the images we have had so far but there will be final touches and tweaks before we get to see completion of the statue.

I am sure that with Ken’s family and members who played with Ken on board, we will get all the finer details as close as we can.”