Art and Painting Conservation & Restoration Services in London
Condition reports
The first part of any studio work is a condition report, conveying the results of our initial analysis and assessment. The report is also an essential document to have before the transportation or loan of any artwork.
Cleaning
Dirt, grime and accretions (or Coca-Cola in the case of this picture above) build up over time and can lead to permanent staining. Cleaning is a delicate process, carried out after thorough testing and examination.
Varnish Removal
Varnish can discolour over time and the integrity of the painting suffers, as its palette, tone and spacial dimensions are corrupted. Careful cleaning removes these layers, revealing the work’s original splendour.
Overpaint removal
Artwork can suffer from previous conservation attempts, in which the original paint has been covered with poorly matched overpaint. We carefully remove these layers to reveal the painting beneath as the artist intended.
Tear mending
We employ a wide range of techniques and methods to restore torn or damaged works on canvas - from small nicks to significant rips and canvas distortions. This may involve adhesives, thread-by-thread joining, or lining the entire canvas to provide durable support.
Retouching
Retouching, also known as in-painting, restores the visual integrity of an artwork that may present areas of loss or degradation. Paint is carefully matched to ensure a seamless regeneration of the original image, as the artist intended. All studio retouching is reversible.
Consolidation
Different layers of paint experience different stresses as they dry and age, resulting in paint cracking, flaking and being lost. Consolidation stabilises these layers to ensure the future integrity of the piece and make it safe for any further treatment procedures.
structural repair
Our studio repairs any form of major damage to an artwork’s canvas, panel or metal support. In the case of bespoke contemporary constructions, we liaise with the artists and their suppliers to ensure any repairs are in line with their original intentions.