Alan Collins (born 1928) is an English-born sculptor noted for his work at Guildford Cathedral. He was educated at Wallington County Grammar School and then the Wimbledon School of Art. Was then accepted into the Royal College of Art and studied there under Professor Frank Dobson.
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Notable among Collins's works at Guildford is the carving The Hand of God, visible from the approach to the cathedral.
In the cathedral's South Garth another of Collins's works shows a scallop shell held by two hands. The scallop shell was originally a sign that a pilgrim had paid a visit to the shrine of St. James at Compostela in North West Spain where scallop shells were abundant on the beaches.
Collins also prepared the scale model of the angel on the top of the tower. He also carried out several works inside the Cathedral. He carved the Arms of Bishop MacMillan above the inside of St.Ursula’s Porch, the arms of Cranleigh School in the Baptistry and those of St Catherine’s School as well as the “Fish and GK” letters on the front of the font. Other external works at the Cathedral by Collins can be seen in the gallery below.
See details on The National Archives website to which a link is given below.
Collins later moved to the United States and carried out work there.