Australian Les Johnson was chosen as the artist to sculpt the HMS Vernon monument, which will stand in water at Gunwharf Quays.

The shopping centre is built on the site of the old navy torpedo school, and Mr Johnson will draw upon decades of experience to create a fitting tribute.

He said: 'Whenever I do a project, I like to mull the subject over first, and you can't help but be in awe of what these divers do.

'To be risking their lives on a daily basis is a tremendous achievement, and I hope what I produce meets their expectations.'

Mr Johnson, who studied in Sydney and Melbourne before coming to Britain, has been commissioned to make several high-profile works.

Apart from the Vernon monument, he is working on a statue marking the abolition of slavery 200 years ago that will stand in Hyde Park.

And, in Nottingham, a full-size statue of legendary football manager Brian Clough is already in place.

He said: 'I don't have any particular area that interests me over another. I really get involved with each piece of work I do.

'The slavery piece for Hyde Park is very involved and will stand up to 14ft high in some places, but with every sculpture I get carried away with it.

'For the Vernon monument we came down to visit all the navy's diving sites and it didn't take long to get a feel for the place.

'I then went away and built a maquette – a scaled-down model – that will act as my working guide.'

The £120,000 scheme was launched last summer by veterans and current divers from the organisation Project Vernon.

A lack of funding at the moment means that the design is being modified, but Mr Johnson is confident the project will go ahead.

He said: 'We are simplifying the base of the maquette to reduce costs, and when the finance is in place I will be able to start on the real thing.'