Conservation, cleaning and restoration of your painting, print or frame

The next image shows the difference a clean can make.

Years of grime, soot and dust can combine with degradation of the varnished surface to ruin a lovely picture. A professional clean makes all the difference.

The next two examples show what can be done.

In this example, areas of paint are completely missing and the surface has degraded to an unpleasant bloom.

The natural, vibrant colours have been restored and the damaged areas repaired.

Foxing (blotching) and paper colour degradation are common problems with watercolours. If you have boards similar to those shown in the next frame in contact with your watercolour, these are a contributary factor and remedial action should be taken as shown in the two following frames.

This example has been stuck to an acidic barrier board which will need to be removed before the localised and more general discolouration can be tackled.

Engravings and other printed works of art on paper share much in common with watercolours in the nature of the problems suffered, although the problems tend to be more acute, not least due to the fact that the quality of the paper used tends to be lower. The next four frames show how typical problems are resolved.

Badly foxed and discoloured, this engraving needs intensive treatment, without affecting the delicate hand-colouring or the integrity of the medium-grade paper.

The delicate colours are retained and enhanced, and the engraving is ready for framing. The severe nature of the problem means that the the paper is whiter than would be the norm in restoration, but the integrity is unaffected.

The paper is generally discoloured, with some localised foxing.

The paper is now an acceptable colour, and the foxing has been removed.

Faded, discoloured or damaged photos, old or new, can be restored to their former glory, leaving the original copy untouched.

Even if large areas are completely missing, as in this example, the missing areas can be cloned back to their original state.

The photo has been invisibly mended.

This clean copy has been retrieved from a damaged print, and the colours and textures have been enhanced to give a rather painted effect.

Many frames of many kinds have been abused in all manner of ways over their long, sometimes unhappy, lives. They can be restored to their original finish and patina even when pieces are missing or the original finish has been overpainted.

Needing refreshing.

Refreshed.