The bronze, with foundry worker Nicholas Watts, will be unveiled by Prince Charles

Paintings by Gwynedd-based Sir Kyffin are said to be the secret behind the figure of the farmer, a Welsh Mountain ram and a sheepdog.

Castle Fine Arts Foundry, in Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, near Welshpool, which worked on the project for a year, said artist Chris Kelly even visited a farm near Bala, in Gwynedd, to "get a feeling'" for the breed of sheep and its size.

The statue will be unveiled by the Prince of Wales at the show, in Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, on Monday.

Castle Fine Arts managing director, Chris Butler said: "In essence, the inspiration for the figure came from paintings by Sir Kyffin Williams who has painted farming scenes.

"The statue of the farmer is not based on anyone in particular, but it just depicts a Welsh farming scene common throughout the country."

A painting by Sir Kyffin Williams

Mr Butler added that smaller versions of the bronze by Harrogate-based sculptor Chris Kelly, had been cast and one would be presented to Prince Charles on Monday.

He added: "They are on sale at a price of �300 and a few have been bought already."

The figure of a shepherd flanked by a sheepdog and a Welsh Mountain ram, has been chosen as the most symbolic and traditional image of Welsh farming.

Football legend

"We had difficulty making the final choice," said Royal Welsh Agricultural Society chief executive, David Walters.

"In the end, however, we came to the conclusion that this particular design best encapsulated farming in Wales in an instantly recognisable and appealing form and we hope everyone will find the sculpture pleasing and attractive."

The statue has cost �25,000 and has been sponsored by the Principality Building Society.

The Royal Welsh project is the latest in a long line of high-profile jobs for the mid Wales foundry.

It cast a bronze statue of ex-Beatle John Lennon which overlooks the check-in hall at the airport that bears the legend's name in Liverpool.

It has also produced a 30ft bronze sculpture for Manchester's Commonwealth Games.