THIS is the first look at a statue set to be unveiled at Winchester University later this month.

Christine Charlesworth is the artist behind this sculpture of Greta Thunberg, who propelled into the national media when she began the school climate strikes 2018.

After a year of work, it is finally ready to be unveiled at the uni on March 30.

Christine, of Milford, Surrey, believes this is the first full-size sculpture of the activist.

She told the Chronicle: "I was commissioned by Winchester University who selected a few artists to give presentations of their ideas for a sculpture of Greta in March 2020.

"Originally the interview committee were talking about her sitting on the ground, wearing her yellow coat, but I felt strongly about portraying her telling more about the person she is. I was awarded the commission a number of weeks later due to all the problems with first lockdown.

"The university wanted a sculpture of Greta because it is a very 'green' University and they feel that Greta will be an inspiration to all the students.

"I first made a maquette (quarter size figure) of my idea, which had to be approved by the committee online. I completed the sculpture by the end of the year and the Vice Chancellor, Joy Carter, was able to visit between lockdowns to approve the finished sculpture. It is now almost finished being cast in bronze."

Christine has also completed two larger portrait sculptures of women: Dame Ethel Smyth, composer, for Woking town centre, and Emily Wilding Davison, suffragette, for Epsom Town centre.

Dame Ethel to be put on site in May and Emily to be unveiled on June 6.

"I am very proud to have created three important female bronze statues for prominent places in the country and hope that I will be commissioned to create more in the future," added Christine.

The artist trained at Wolverhampton College of Art between 1965 and 1967.

She moved to Surrey in 1995 and concentrated on career as Sculptor.

Since 2000 she has completed 46 private and 15 public commissions.