Restoration

Described recently in a How To Spend It article in the Financial Times as a “part sleuth, part therapist and part miracle worker… a modern master of illumination”, Simon Gillespie runs a team of seven conservators, restorers and specialists in his studio above New Bond Street in central London.

Ceri House is an artist and restorer and currently works with Nick Shipton and the Brothership Studio team in Hertford.

Conservation and restoration firm Plowden & Smith is now run by managing director Camilla Hughes-Hunt with a team of 13 qualified full-time conservation specialists.

TV programmes have brought restoration and conservation into the public spotlight recently, but what is life really like for those working in the field at a time when training and jobs are under pressure?

West Dean College recently merged with KLC School of Design in London.

Lizzie Neville, head of school of conservation at West Dean College of Arts & Conservation, works with 15 full-time members of staff and more than 50 visiting lecturers

Priory Polishes sells restoration products to the antiques trade and was originally founded by Allan Worrell in Lancashire and later run by Paul Cartwright. Last year antiques and restoration firm Driscoll’s Antiques in Clitheroe, Lancashire, run by James Driscoll, took over the firm and Priory Polishes is now run by daughters Isabel (age 21) and Ruby (age 18).

MADAM – Can your readers identify the workshop responsible for this ‘Last Supper’ triptych of glazed tiles, set on a slate and mortar matrix?

Anthony Bridgman is head of restoration at Westland London where he has worked since the 1990s. Established by Geoff Westland in 1969, the firm deals in architectural and decorative antiques and has built one of the largest collections of antique chimney pieces in the world, with some 750 examples.

A Surrey clockmaker has made a replica of a celebrated English barometer that is now lost.

Demand for independent condition reports soared during lockdown, according to one restoration firm.

Robert was born in Stirling, Scotland, in April 1943 and being always interested in design and architecture, soon got a job at Heal’s in Tottenham Court Road.

MADAM – Many of your readers will already have heard the news that the National Trust is going through a consultation process and will make up to 1200 redundancies as it expects to lose up to £200m this year.

MADAM – You might suggest to Anthony Carter that he should photograph the faint inscription on his ‘fake Constable’ (Letters, ATG No 2451) with an infrared setting on a camera (often called ‘night vision’ on cameras).

I knew Ian Norman (formerly of Porcelain Repairs) for over 35 years. He was a master craftsman of repairing antique porcelain.

Picture restorer Sydney (Syd) Bennett passed away on August 16, aged 86.

Peter Willet (1941-2019), known affectionately to all as Mick, has died suddenly.