A relative of Virginia Woolf has hit back at critics of a riverside statue of the novelist, which has finally been unveiled after a five year fundraising campaign.

The life-size figure of the author of Mrs Dalloway was officially unveiled on the riverside at Richmond, which was once her home.

Woolf, who was dogged by mental illness throughout her life, drowned herself in the River Ouse near her Sussex home in 1941, aged 59.

Campaigners claimed the location of the £50,000 bronze statue was in bad taste, 'insensitive' and could even trigger similar suicide attempts.

The Richmond Society said placing the statue near water was 'inappropriate' and suggested other locations in the borough.

But, speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Woolf's great-great niece, Sophie Partridge, said critics of the project had a 'very narrow way of thinking' - and claimed her late relative should not be defined by the way she died.

Credit: Liz Anderson.

Ms Partridge said: "I think the criticism is a very narrow way of thinking about it. Virginia Woolf has been defined by her death, but she is so much more than that.

"She is sitting by the river and, to me, the river is an expression of life.."

Ms Partridge said the author is remembered in the family as a fun, vivacious woman who was 'always interesting and interested'.

She added: "She always described her as very warm, generous and loving, and as somebody who was witty and fun.

"It is not how one tends to think about Virginia Woolf. She was someone who loved to play games with her family.

"I particularly remember my aunt describing her voice and laugh. She had a very particular laugh.

"My impression of her is that she was a complex person with perhaps more contrast than you would expect.

"She was very intelligent and vivacious, very thoughtful, interesting and interested.

"I am really happy to see this statue of her being unveiled, there is something about the way she is sitting in front of the river which is very natural.

"It is a good moment for her and her family."

Earlier her great niece Emma Woolf said: "It is a beautiful statue and it is a beautiful place for it to be. I hope everybody will enjoy this statue on such a beautiful, grey Richmond day."

Plans for the statue overlooking Richmond Riverside were first revealed in 2017 to commemorate Woolf, who lived with her husband Leonard Woolf at Hogarth House in Richmond from 1915 to 1924.

During their time in the town, they founded the famous Hogarth Press publishing house.

The charity Aurora Metro was granted permission for the statue by Richmond Council in 2018.

Aurora Metro Arts and Media is a registered charity led by Cheryl Robson, which champions diversity and equality through arts and educational projects both locally and globally.

She said: "Women are completely under-represented in public sculptures in Britain. You had to be a queen or a naked muse to merit being depicted. We see our Virginia artwork as an attempt to begin redressing this imbalance."

The charity is sister company to Aurora Metro Publications, a local publisher with three decades of publishing original voices, championing diversity and equality, and promoting work in translation.

The charity is located in a new local bookshop, Books on the Rise, where all things related to Virginia Woolf will be available, including books, maquettes, and merchandise.

The fight to put up the statue was supported by authors and celebrities including Margaret Atwood, Caitlin Moran, Mark Haddon and Phillip Pullman.

Local MP Sarah Olney and Lord Zac Goldsmith have also backed the project while Richmond councillors said the location was 'poignant' and could encourage discussions about mental health.

A small crowd of around 50 people braved the rain to gather round the statue, which was created by award-winning sculptor Laury Dizengremel, as it was unveiled on Wednesday afternoon.

Family gathered around the bench for the first time and Emma's two-year-old son Ludo Woolf climbed on it.

Ms Dizengremel said the creation was a 'labour of love' for her.

She added: "A public artwork captures just one moment of the life of a person.

"There is a magic moment when one develops a statue when the face comes alive and becomes full of actual presence.

"I felt I had captured her spirit and that she had showed the wit and good humour she had shared with Leonard on that bench."

She added that she hoped it would inspire her daughters and granddaughters to become 'women of achievement themselves'.

Richmond councillor, John Coombs, expressed his thanks to the sculptor who created a 'wonderful tribute to the writer'.

He added: "Our statue of her seeks to challenge the myth of the tortured genius."