Sophie Barton ACR
About Me
After studying art history at University and discovering the world of conservation, I went to study Conservation at City & Guilds of London Art School (C&G). At C&G, I focused my studies on the conservation of polychrome objects, receiving training from brilliant tutors, the Japanning specialist Margaret Ballardie and work experience with Pauline Plummer, conservator of paintings and polychromy on medieval rood screens. After graduating, I gained experience completing internships in the polychrome sculpture conservation departments at SRAL, Maastricht; at KIK-IRPA in Brussels and worked for four and a half years at the CRRCOA in Vesoul, France. My travels have enabled me to work with inspiring colleagues on polychrome religious sculpture and composite altarpieces in Holland, Belgium and France.
Following a one year HLF ICON internship, focusing on the conservation of decorative surfaces on furniture; learning finishing techniques for wood surfaces, taking part in specialist Urushi lacquer workshops run by TOBUNKEN in Cologne and gaining experience working on a variety of decorative finishes, I worked for six years on diverse items of furniture with the highly skilled professionals at Tankerdale Limited.
Working in conservation requires keeping up to date with current best practice and new techniques by liaising with professionals in the field. I maintain my accredited status by sharing knowledge and regularly contributing to my professional development.
I have been a visiting lecturer in the conservation department at C&G since 2015. I am particularly interested in the identification and analysis of Asian lacquer and European japanning; I can perform basic materials analysis in house.
Client Testimonials
We employed Sophie Barton from Temple Studios to restore a number of frames that had losses and needed consolidation. She has been professional and proactive throughout the process, from her initial consultation to the work on site and her post site report. Working with care and detailed attention she has improved our collection’s appearance and stability greatly over the course of two days, moulding, casting and gilding where required. I would highly recommend her work.
Celia Hodges
House Steward Co-ordinator, Stansted HouseTraining
History of Art, BA Hons, University of York, UK.
Postgraduate Diploma in Conservation, City & Guilds of London Art School, London, UK.
Paid internship in the polychrome sculpture studio, under the supervision of Arnold Truyen, SRAL (Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg), Maastricht, Holland.
Internship in the polychrome wood studio, under the supervision of Erika Rabelo and Dominique Dustin, KIK-IRPA (Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage), Brussels, Belgium.
Internship in the sculpture department at CRRCOA (Regional Centre for the Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art) under the supervision of Anne Gérard Bendele, Vesoul, France.
Work History
Polychrome wood and decorative surfaces conservator at Tankerdale Ltd. Petersfield, Hampshire. Work included conservation of lacquerware, European japanning, gilding, polychrome surfaces, furniture, frames and clock cases. Documentation, condition assessments and written condition reports. Project work. Collections management, surveys of items for loan and of general collections. Conservation and restoration treatment to artwork on-site in front of the public. Materials and paint analysis.
Sculpture restorer in the sculpture department of the CRRCOA (Regional Centre for the Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art) Vesoul, France. The work consisted of the conservation of polychrome objects, ranging from small wooden sculptures, to large composite altarpieces and church furniture.
