Karin Jonzen

Sculptor and teacher, born in London of Swedish parents. She studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, 1933–6, winning both painting and sculpture prizes; gained a scholarship in 1936 for a fourth year, and attended the City and Guilds Art School, Kennington; also studying at the Royal Academy in Stockholm. In 1939 won the Prix de Rome, but war — during which she served as an ambulance driver — prevented her from going to Italy. After the war Jonzen was elected a fellow of RBS and won the Feodora Gleichen Memorial Fund award as well as a series of international gold and silver medals.

Among her portraits were the writer Sir Alan Herbert, the architect Sir Hugh Casson and the ballerina Dame Ninette de Valois. Jonzen completed a large number of public commissions including the bronze group Beyond Tomorrow, at Barbican Centre, a bronze torso for the World Health Organization building in Geneva and a Madonna and Child for St Mary-le-Bow Church. Tate Gallery, provincial and foreign collections hold Jonzen's work.