Karen Dundas ACR
Projects
About Me
Scottish Wall Paintings Conservators was set up in 2005 following my experience as a Structural Paintings Intern in a collaboration between Historic Environment Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland. As an accredited member of Icon, I work throughout Scotland as a wallpaintings conservator in the private sector.
I believe that safeguarding wallpaintings in Scotland’s historic buildings enhances our experience of cultural heritage, bringing history alive. My particular passion is for the protection of Scottish Renaissance painted decoration. While I often work independently, I regularly lead conservation teams or collaborate with other conservation specialists depending upon the scale and complexity of a project. Over the years I have gained considerable experience treating a diverse range of wallpaintings dating from16thC to contemporary.
MY CLIENTS include The National Trust for Scotland (NTS), Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) and numerous other heritage organisations; conservation architects; private owners; historic building developers; and churches.
MY MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES include preparing extensive condition surveys and advisory reports; carrying out conservation/restoration treatments and architectural paint research; advising on environmental control and appropriate conditions for the care and protection of structural paintings.
I love sharing my conservation work with others, and am an enthusiastic guest lecturer for Historic Environment Scotland's postgraduate Building Conservation course. I present lectures on behalf of historic trusts and in my capacity as an ICOMOS International Wood Committee (IIWC) Expert Member. I also enjoy being a member of the vibrant ICOMOS-UK Wood Committee.
Client Testimonials
I commissioned Karen as a wall paintings conservator at several National Trust for Scotland properties during my tenure as Conservator at the Trust and have always been impressed by the standard of her work and her reporting. Karen has been instrumental in the care of a number of Trust buildings with significant sixteenth and seventeenth century painted ceilings over the last 20 years.
Julie Bon (ACR) - August 2019
Head of Collections Care, National library of Scotland (current position)Earlier this year in my capacity as a Trustee of the Mansfield Traquair Centre I oversaw remedial work Karen and her team undertook on a spectacular mural scheme by Phoebe Anna Traquair. The work was delivered in time and on budget with sensitivity and diplomacy and to a high professional standard.
Lesley Stevenson (ACR) - March 2019
Senior Paintings Conservator, National Galleries ScotlandTraining
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) - Structural Paintings Conservation Internship in a collaboration between the two institutions.
C.E.R.O.A. (Madrid, Spain) - 3-year Diplomatura (Hons.) Conservation and Restoration of Paintings on all substrates.
Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, B.C. Canada) - B.A. Psychology and English Literature.
Work History
Restarte (Madrid, Spain) – project conservator, working on 17thC fresco conservation at the Palacio de Viso del Marques, Ciudad Real: Archive Museum of Don Alvaro de Bazan.
Along with my partner, developed and ran an English as a Foreign Language Programme on a remote island off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan for 8 years. I was responsible for every aspect of the business including: development of teaching programmes for residents on the island; sourcing materials; teaching. The programme was overseen by Nagasaki Board of Education and was extremely popular. I eventually left to pursue a masters in Paintings Conservation in Spain.
Hiroshima Home Television Service (HHTV, Hiroshima, Japan) – English Language News Announcer and Reporter for period of 2 years.
The Wyatt Company (Vancouver, BC Canada) - Actuarial Assistant for 3 years.
