Conservation Matters is based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK

• Conservation of oil or acrylic on canvas, panel, or plaster
• Treatments either in the studio or in-situ
• FREE ESTIMATES if painting brought to studio or by arrangement
• Repair of tears, losses, and structural damage
• Lining or strip-lining
• Consolidation of flaking paint
• Removal of layers of dirt, pollutants, soot etc.
• Removal of darkened and dull varnish
• Conservation framing to lessen deterioration
• Preventive conservation to lessen the impact of everyday conditions
• Advise on the care of paintings and collection management
• Technical analysis
• Illustrated talks

The practice does not

• Exceed the estimate without permission from the client
• Carry out unnecessary work
• Ignore the client's wishes

Practice Attitude All treatments and care of works are carried out in adherence of strict ethical guidelines. The studio takes the approach of minimal intervention, whilst taking into account the art work's place in a domestic or public setting. Only essential work is carried out on a painting: repair and maintenance of structural stability along with removal of varnish and dirt layers where appropriate.

During treatment, simple preventive measures can be taken to lessen degradation of the painting; for example, the fitting of a board over the back of a painting on canvas will reduce the effects of dust and pollution at the back.

An important part of today's conservation practice is the principal of reversibility; for example, anything that alters the surface of the painting, such as varnish or re-touching over lost elements, can be removed easily in the future.