Founded by Richard Hawkes ACR, Artworks Conservation is the largest independent, paper conservation studio in the north of England, with clients throughout the UK and overseas. These include National Trust, Tate, National Science and Media Museum, Southbank Centre, Sheffield Museums, The Hepworth Wakefield, Lakeland Arts, Mima and Devonshire Collection, Chatsworth. We are also pleased to receive work from the art trade, collectors and the public.
Employing three, full-time paper conservators, we undertake a full range of conservation and restoration treatments for art and archives on paper as well as in-house mounting and framing. The studio offers a full exhibition service from preparing artworks, display and assisting with installation.
The studio is a leading specialist in conservation of modern and contemporary prints, large-format maps and posters, modern art installation, Eastern art including scrolls and folding screens, pastels and vellum.
The team undertake on-site condition reports, advisory visits, in-house training for volunteers and curatorial teams and can work overseas.
We are also a renowned manufacturer of light-fast, archival quality, display and handling facsimiles of many types of documents and manuscripts as well as vellum charters with reproduction seals. These are supplied to museums throughout the world including EU, USA and Middle East
Conservation Treatments
Conservation and restoration of:
- Watercolours, Prints and Drawings
- Contemporary and Modern Editions
- Archives
- Pastels
- Maps
- Eastern Art
- Posters including Poster Lining
- Banksy Screenprints
- Parchment and Vellum
- Wallpaper
- Photographs
- Mounting and Framing
Mounting & Framing
In-house, museum quality, conservation mounting and framing ranging from historic to modern styles including hand-finished and gilded frames
- Wide range of conservation mounts and frame finishes, from traditional line and wash mounts to contemporary acrylic box frames or spray-painted mouldings.
- Custom profiles in woods such as ash, oak, maple, cherry and walnut.
- Artworks Conservation maintains historic frames and can advise and arrange for frame restoration to be carried out
- We supply a range of glazing with features such as ultra-violet filtering, low-reflect surface coatings and water-white transparency
Eastern Art
Artworks Conservation are experts in the conservation and restoration of Eastern art, for clients, including National Trust, undertaking cleaning and repair of the following:
- Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints
- Chinese and Japanese scrolls
- Indian Mughal and Persian miniatures
- Oriental folding screens
Parchment & Vellum
Parchment or vellum has a long history of use for both manuscripts and art. Artworks Conservation specialises in the conservation of this interesting material.
Treatments offered include flattening and cleaning of parchment rolls, repair of tears and wax seals, digitisation, mounting and framing.
We also create archival facsimiles of charters and deeds including wax seals and cords for light fast display or education handling
Contemporary Art
Artworks Conservation works with many leading contemporary art galleries and dealers, such as Tate, The Hepworth Wakefield, Mima and MyArtBroker. We are specialists in the conservation and framing of Banksy screenprints and can add value through our restoration treatments.
We provide industry-respected, condition reports to assist with sale or purchase of contemporary and modern editions. Typical remedial conservation work that we undertake includes removal of backings, old hinges, creases and staining. We also offer a wide range of museum-quality, bespoke mounts and frames and assist with installation of contemporary art exhibitions.
Specialists in works of art on paper
Examples of our bespoke museum framing
A watercolour of Chaffinches by Archibald Thorburn, before and after conservation
An 17th century engraving by Philips Wouverman, La Manege, before and after conservation
A photolithograph after L S Lowry, Street Scene, before and after cleaning
Accredited Members
Richard Hawkes ACR
A paper conservator with over 30 years’ experience in museums and independent sector, specializing in art on paper from historic to contemporary. Director of Artworks Conservation since 2004 and worked with many UK museums, galleries and institutions. Richard has taught on conservation training courses at Camberwell and Northumbria University since 2000.
Previously worked at Museum Conservation Services, Cambridge (1995-2004), Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (1993-1995).
MA Conservation of Fine Art (Works on Paper), Northumbria University, 1993 and BA (Hons) History of Art, University of Warwick, 1990.
Specialisms include contemporary art, watercolours, old master drawings, parchment, exhibition display, condition reports and advice, facsimiles
Client testimonials
Quite frankly I am amazed at what you have achieved, given the derelict state of the poster when you took it in, and I consider the restoration work to be of the highest order.
Mr M Dunn
Private Client
I simply wished to thank you for the work you have done on our Grant of Arms. The original is again looking splendid and the excellent display copy will help us to protect the original for many more years to come.
Michael Ryder
Chief Executive, Royal Society for Asian Affairs
A huge thanks from me – I’m really pleased with the results, and it was brilliant to be able to share the work with visitors. I know the team enjoyed working with you both, too.
Alexa Buffey
Collection & House Manager, National Trust