Conservation of artworks for museums, national institutions, and private clients.
Art preservation by James Caverhill
With a wide array of previous projects behind him, James Caverhill has the experience you need to restore and preserve your art.
From damage through transit to general wear-and-tear, you can trust James to keep you artwork in great condition.
Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate
Conservation, mounting and framing of F Brangwyn lithographic posters. The posters had been stored rolled and had suffered from physical damage, crude repairs, and exposure to dirt and damp. The posters were surface cleaned, washed, repaired and framed
Kiplin Hall, Richmond
Conservation, mounting and framing of an Oriental frieze. The frieze had been cut into sections, crudely framed, was not glazed or backed and had been exposed to dirt, damp and silverfish. The sections of frieze were surface cleaned, the paintwork consolidated and the sections washed. The old backing materials were removed, the paper was relined, stretched, mounted and framed in a sympathetic frame
Isabel Rawsthorne collection
The collection comprised around 40 sketches created by the artist Isabel Rawsthorne as preparatory drawings for more detailed watercolours and oil paintings. They had been pinned to walls, splashed with paint, exposed to dirt and damp, stuck down to inferior backing cards, and allowed to develop mould. The collection was fully conserved, mounted and framed and became part of a touring exhibition
National Trust, Yorkshire Region
Conservation of the Baby House Wallpaper, Nunnington Hall. The wallpaper on the doors of the Baby House had been torn around the windows and crudely repaired with sellotape. The sellotape had degraded leaving a brown, disfiguring residue. The wallpaper was removed from the doors, washed and treated with solvents to remove the adhesive residue, patched and re-positioned on the doors. Patches were retouched to match the wallpaper pattern.
Leeds Discovery Museum, Leeds
Conservation of the paper based components of the Harrison Clock. This precision clock built in 1727 by John Harrison was fundamental in overcoming navigational problems at sea. The clock houses three paper based components on wooden supports, which were severely degraded. The paper items were carefully removed from the wood, conserved and replaced.
Gallery Oldham, Oldham
Conservation of political and theatrical posters. The posters had been heat sealed to hardboard and laminated with plastic. The posters were separated from the hardboard, treated with solvents to remove the plastic, washed, and lined with Japanese tissue.
Audley End House, English Heritage, Saffron Waldon
Identification of wallpaper chronology. This historic house has several early wallpapers, however some have been covered over with modern papers. The project included removal of sections of paper to uncover the original layers, and rehanging the room in a handmade reproduction of one of the earliest patterns.
Case studies
This watercolour was executed on very thin paper, stuck to a poor quality backing. The backing degraded and caused discolouration and yellowing of the watercolour. The backing was removed, the watercolour washed and relined onto an acid free support.
Poor quality framing and mounting can lead to the development of foxing (brown spots) on artworks. This watercolour was separated from the polluting elements of the framing assembly. It was washed to remove the pollutants and the foxing was neutralised.
This watercolour has suffered from water damage. The water has dissolved pollutants in the mount and frame and deposited them in watercolour causing severe discolouration. The artwork was separated from the mount, washed to remove the pollutants and treated with oxidising agents to remove the staining.
