Cathy Britain ACR

28 May 2025

My specialisms are the conservation and restoration of painted and gilt surfaces, traditional decoration techniques, architectural paint research, and the completion of major projects to historic interiors.

I have been working in this field for over 20 years, gaining a wealth of experience in Grade I listed buildings and monuments, and in 2016 co-founded Britain & Co, a conservation and specialist decoration company, with a Master Decorator.

We specialise in multi-disciplinary heritage projects, combining expertise in both fine decoration techniques and conservation.

Training

2015 - 2015

Surface Cleaning Science for Painting Conservators: Tate Gallery

2011 - 2011

Pigments and the Polarising Microscope

2009 - 2011

Architectural Association: Building Conservation Postgraduate Degree

2001 - 2004

BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting: Wimbledon School of Art

Work History

2017 -

Director/Owner, Britain & Co. Ltd

2009 - 2017

Director, Hare & Humphreys Ltd

2008 - 2011

Freelance Conservator & Decorator, Art & Architecture

2006 - 2008

Conservator, St Blaise Ltd

Hatfield House, Long Gallery

Britain & Co undertook the conservation of the ceiling of the Long Gallery, Hatfield House. This included the stabilisation and repair of plaster cracking, conservation of painted and gilt surfaces, and retouching of repairs.

Private Residence, York, Before Treatment

Following a water leak and catastrophic failure of a historic ceiling in this country house, Britain & Co were employed to remove the marouflage ceiling canvas, conserve offsite and re-hang following the replacement of the ceiling beds.

Private Residence, York, Retouching

Locarno Suite, Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Following a water leak, we were commissioned to selectively repair and reinstate two areas of this elaborate stencilled scheme, including colour matching, gilding and hand-cutting stencils.

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