POPPY COOKSEY OBE, FRSA, PhD, B.Sc Contact
Restorer/Conservator of oil paintings and frames. Structural supports to oil paintings provided, including stretchers, relining and cradling for warped panels.
30 years top London experience, serving dealers, auction houses, museums, and individuals. Work is always of high quality and ethical standards or reversibility are maintained.

About me- I trained for seven years in London in the 60s, and have three decades experience of cleaning and restoring works of art. I will tackle anything from a family watercolour to a Monet with tears and flaking paint. I am happy to consider "nightmare" works - those that surface from a barn, a skip, an attic, have a burglar's foot through them, or which have been seriously damaged in some other way. I am able to turn work around very quickly if necessary. I and my colleagues provide the complete service, including cleaning, removing stains and foxing, relining, retouching damage, and everything necessary for mounts, line washes and frames including re-gilding.

Damage-Many things can damage a painting. These range from dampness and changes in relative humidity and temperature which can cause mildew, whitening, and foxing, particularly in watercolours. Panels may warp and crack. Paint can lift and eventually flake off. Oil paintings may start to blister, or crackling or crazing may appear. Sagging or loose flapping canvas happens if the tension on the stretcher has been neglected. Bumps occur along the bottom when holly berries or wedges and dirt fall down behind the stretcher. Paintings fall off the walls because of deteriorating hangings. Removal men are not always as careful as they might be and works of art may get damaged in transit.

Aging- Oil paintings are almost always varnished to reduce the damage caused by the gradual accumulation of dirt. Varnish will invariably turn yellow and opaque with time. When this happens the old varnish must be removed and replaced with a modern varnish. Dirt defaces paintings and submerges the colours. This happens slowly, over a period of time, so you may not realise how dirty the painting has become, or how yellow is the varnish. It may just look dull. Too much light can cause fading of colours. The examples below show what happens when these layers of accumulated surface dirt and old varnish are removed, and the true paint colours are revealed.

Next step If you think you need the services of a restorer, you can email or telephone me to discuss the problem. We can arrange for me to see the work. I have studios in London (Hammersmith), and near Banbury. When I have made a detailed examination of the item, and if you wish provided a written report, we can discuss what would be the best procedure and the likely cost.
Restoration need not be expensive, but if paintings are left to deteriorate it doesn't help.