Oil Painting Restoration

Where more serious damage has been sustained to oil paintings, through flood, fire or accidental damage, conservation methods are used to clean and stabilise the affected areas to prevent any further deterioration. Canvas damage restoration and re-lining work is carried out to regain the necessary structural support throughout the oil painting restoration process.

All retouching work is done within the varnish layer, using pure powdered pigments. The retouchings are built up as the varnish is, and the paint medium used in the restoration is therefore the same varnish as the one coating the finished picture. This enables the added material to be easily removed if required in the future, a basic principle of modern conservation.

When retouching paint, our aim is always to disguise if possible rather than cover over, using the minimum touches of paint, and the fewest number of pigments in the mix. We use top quality varnishes to protect the work.

Oil Painting Conservation

Oil paintings need constant attention. Left untreated they will gradually deteriorate through temperature changes, humidity, UV exposure, excess light, direct heat, dust and various airborne particles which slowly destroy works of art in different ways.

Typical damages are dirt accumulation, cracking and paint layer loss. These damages become more severe if left untreated and can lead to near destruction of artwork. Nearly all work involves inspecting structural integrity, and if necessary structurally reinforcing the artwork.

The removal of dirt and varnish is carried out with solvents and other mild chemicals. Because dirt gathers very slowly on the surface of a picture, it is surprising the difference even surface cleaning can make. Minor bumps and dents in the canvas support and small areas of cracking can be treated using patch repair techniques or by lining the painting onto a new canvas to provide added support into the future.

Canvas Restoration

Printed canvas wall art is now readily available at exceptionally low prices due to print development over the last few years. However, hand painted canvases are irreplaceable with a higher residual value based on age and style.

Canvases are more exposed to accidental damage than framed art pieces. The removal of dirt and varnish is carried out with solvents and other mild chemicals. Because dirt gathers very slowly on the surface of a picture, even surface cleaning can make a surprising difference.

Where tear damage has occurred, it is possible to re-line the canvas to provide necessary structural support. When retouching paint, our aim is always to disguise if possible rather than cover over, using the minimum touches of paint. We use a range of top quality varnishes to protect the work.

For an example of our capabilities, here is a video of our restorers removing the varnish off an antique painting that had become tarnished over time.

Oil Painting Restoration

Oil Painting Conservation

Canvas Restoration

Years of expertise have led us to develop specialist techniques, enabling us to undertake many different types of restoration

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