Sarah Peek ACR
About Me
I am extremely grateful to enjoy a career doing something that is rewarding, interesting and challenging. I am interested to hear my clients stories of how they engage with their objects whether it's sentimental, aesthetic, historical or financial.
I started working as a ceramics and glass conservator in 1995 after graduating from West Dean College, West Sussex. West Dean provided me with the basic understanding of my specialism, conservation materials and ethics. My dedication to my clients and their objects has given me opportunities to problem solve complex condition issues, consider treatment options with an open mind, challenging our materials in pursuit of good ethical and visual outcomes for the objects trusted to my care.
I am currently chair person of ICON's Accreditation Committee. It is a privilege to read the applications and have an insight into the projects being worked upon in the UK and internationally. My volunteer hours are well rewarded with the satisfaction of knowing that our community of Accredited Members is growing. Being a Accredited Member of ICON acknowledges that you are willing to be held accountable as a professional and commit to continued professional development.
I also enjoy passing on my skills to fellow conservators by offering short course run from my studio. The short courses are a wonderful opportunity to work together, challenge our materials, and our understanding of how to manipulate them to the objects advantage.
I am a keen gardener, Labrador lover, and enthusiastic cook loving nothing more than sharing the labours of a day spent in the kitchen with my pots and pans sitting round a table with family and friends. New passion is fermenting vegetables - I think my husband and kids are a little scared!
Client Testimonials
When I was head of ceramics at Bonhams, customers often asked me to arrange really good restoration and conservation, usually in a hurry. I came to rely on Sarah to meet our tight catalogue deadlines without compromising on quality. I trusted her to carry out careful research to ensure accuracy, and thanks to her dedication, many rare but damaged pieces looked fantastic when previewed in our galleries.
Now that I have retired from Bonhams, I’ve been asking Sarah for help to conserve special pieces from my own collection. She has a sympathy and understanding for ceramics that mirrors my own deep passion for the material. This has enabled her to breathe new life into some of my sad-looking casualties.
John Sandon
Ceramics Consultant and expert on the BBC Antiques Roadshow“Sarah Peek Conservation have been our ceramics restorers of choice for a number of years now; the quality of restoration work is second to none and her advice, approach and philosophy exemplify the best in modern restoration techniques and approaches. Her professionalism and experience is very reassuring for us and our clients whether dealing with a single item or a collection.”
Rodney Woolley
Sotheby's London"In the twenty-five years I have known Sarah Peek she has always provided a highly professional service and fully satisfied the most demanding challenges."
Nigel Harris
Private CollectorTraining
BSc in Art Education University of Georgia, Athens Georgia USA
Diploma in the Conservation and Restoration of Ceramic and Related Materials, West Dean College West Sussex England
International Academic Projects (IAP): Chemistry for Conservators 3 month Correspondence Course IAP Adhesives Consolidants and Coatings week long course with Velson Horie
Professional Conservators in Practice: Preventive Conservation
Work History
Allyson Mcdermott Conservation, Petworth House, West Sussex My first job after leaving West Dean College was to take over the running of the ceramics conservation department from my friend Ros Hodges. Allyson's studio specialised in Wallpaper conservation and the ceramics where just a small part. It is with Allyson that I learned about business, client communication, skills for working on site and how to make MASSIVE moulds on to which we cast embossed wallpaper.
Its been a few years now and many pots later and I am still happily employed by Sarah Peek Limited. The studio moved from Petworth to Brighton in 2000. In 2003 I researched, planned and built the small yet perfect studio to carried out our work. The space provides 1st class security, discrete entrance, well light and comfortable working environment with separate cleaning room, storage and main workshop.
