Services Offered

I restore and conserve paintings on canvas wood and metal, in a fully-equipped and secure studio in Shoreditch, just north of the City of London. I treat easel paintings of all ages and in many different mediums, including egg tempera, oil paint, acrylic paints and modern works of Art in mixed media.  The term 'easel paintings' defines works of Art on canvas, wood and metal.  Works of Art on paper, such as prints and watercolours, should be restored by a specialist paper conservator.

I undertake all aspects of painting restoration including re-lining torn canvases, repairing splits in paintings on wood panel, cleaning, filling and retouching. 

I provide exhibition conservation services such as condition checking and providing documentation for insurance purposes.  I have 1,000,000 GBP professional indemnity and can carry out remedial treatments on paintings either in situ at a gallery or at my studio.  I am used to liaising with artists and owners over treatment requirements.

As I regularly work freelance for numerous museums and galleries (including Tate in London, the National Gallery of Australia, and The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford), I am also well-qualified to advise on care of collections, preventive conservation, framing, hanging, transport and storage requirements, am up to date with the latest research and techniques and can source experts where required.

Insurance can be arranged for works of Art while they are being restored at my studio.

In my private practice I work for a variety of clients including individual collectors, small museums, picture dealers, loss adjusters and Fine Art insurers.   Projects vary from one small painting to large collections and rolling programmes of conservation/restoration treatment.

My restoration studio is within easy reach of the City of London and Islington as well as all the galleries in the East End of London, there is pay and display parking just outside, and it is outside the congestion charging zone.  Generous studio space, a goods lift and excellent access mean large paintings can be accommodated with ease.  

Treatments to paintings in need of restoration range from structural repairs, such as mending tears in canvas, splits in panels and consolidating flaking paint, to cleaning, which includes removal of surface dirt, discoloured varnishes and old restorations where appropriate, and filling and retouching losses and damages.  The long-term care of the painting (preventive conservation) is considered throughout and backboards, stretcher-bar linings, and the most suitable hanging and lighting options are recommended to protect paintings from future deterioration.  I can also advise on uv protection and recommend installers of uv film.

Unlike many other conservation/restoration studios, we have the skills and equipment necessary to undertake structural treatments, such as re-lining canvas paintings, mending tears, and repairing panel paintings, on site. We also carry out all other aspects of painting restoration and conservation, such as surface cleaning, removing varnish and old restorations, filling and retouching damages, and re-fitting paintings into frames with preventive conservation in mind.   Where outside experts are needed we have a database of reliable Art removers, stores, frame restorers and others to draw on.

All treatments comply with professional codes of practice, they are reversible where possible and use only the best conservation-grade materials and up-to-date techniques.  They are carried out to a very high standard using top-quality materials. The least interventive method is chosen wherever possible, in keeping with ethical standards. Conservation techniques and materials are tailored to suit the painting in question.  I have a large repetoire of materials and techniques to choose from and I keep up-to-date with new ideas and developments in materials and techniques through my continued professional development.  I regularly attend conferences and workshops and participate in conferences and meetings.   I also learn a lot from my contact with colleagues, freelance work at public Institutions and through my membership of professional bodies.

Potential clients can bring their paintings to the studio (by appointment) for a free assessment, treatment proposal, and estimate, without obligation; visits can also be made to view pictures in situ which are very fragile or too large to be transported by car.

Once a course of action and price for the work has been agreed, photographs are taken of the painting prior to conservation.  Written and photographic records are kept throughout the conservation and restoration of the work of Art.  I am experienced and skilled in the treatment of paintings of any age including modern paintings, post 1900.

If you have any enquiries please feel free to Contact Me.