I conserve and restore all kinds of art on paper, and paper objects, including prints, drawings, watercolours, screenprints, posters, etchings, engravings, pastels, woodcuts, architectural models and letters. 

Common issues I may be able to address include discolouration, staining, mount-burn, dirt, tapes, yellowing adhesives, tears, breaks, losses, creases, folds, scratches and distortions. 

If you have an artwork or paper object you’d like to have assessed you are welcome to bring it in, or to have it delivered by one of the art couriers who frequent the studio. Alternatively, if you are able to email me images of your artwork as well as its size and a brief description of the issue(s), I can often give some indication of what treatment may be possible and a rough idea of cost. You can then decide whether to bring or send the artwork in.

Assessment

Once an artwork is with me, I put together a condition assessment and, if appropriate, a treatment proposal as well as a more formal estimate for your approval. I document the artwork photographically at this stage too and may carry out testing.

When agreed, I will normally carry out treatment in my studio at the Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool, but specific treatments may be undertaken on-site.

Treatment

The focus of treatment can be to stabilise the condition of the work (i.e. slowing down or halting on-going deterioration) or to address visually distracting aspects. Often treatment focuses on a combination of concerns, and a treatment to stabilise a work may also improve its appearance.

I document the artwork in writing and photographically before, after and, where appropriate, during treatment. On completion of conservation I provide a treatment record detailing materials and techniques used as well as care recommendations for your reference. I recommend a copy of the treatment record is kept with the artwork to support its future care.

The principle of minimal intervention underlies my approach to conservation treatment and, where possible, I use techniques that are fully or partially reversible or which will allow future treatment.

Cost and lead time

My hourly rate for new clients is £70 +VAT for treatment, and formal condition reports are £140 +VAT. Treatment is charged per quarter of an hour. As a rough guide I find that treatment of individual artworks typically requires 3-6 hours, and that treatment can usually be completed in 2-6 weeks. Please let me know if you are working to a deadline and I will try to accommodate if at all possible.