Currently, I am the Subject Leader of the Book Conservation department at West Dean College and teach both on the Graduate and the Masters course as well as having a successful private studio in South London.
I am able to offer an extensive range of conservation services, from conservation treatments on individual items to preventive conservation advice. I managed a team of professional conservators at the British Library for many years and manage workloads efficiently. My experience spans the conservation of medieval manuscripts, Islamic, Hebrew, Korean, to Japanese objects, all of which are conserved with professionalism and cultural integrity. I also enjoy working on printed books, maps, and archives.
As part of my practice, I offer expert services in all aspects of conservation including surveys of collections, condition reports for loans and exhibitions and individual objects. I can offer environmental and preventive conservation services and am confident with most environmental data logging for institutions.
Training
October 1989 - June 1994
University of Deusto, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain Mayor Degree in Hispanic Philology
September 1998 - June 2001
Camberwell College of Arts- University of the Arts London B.A. (Hons) Paper Conservation (2:1)
September 2001 - July 2022
West Dean College, Chichester, West Sussex University Postgraduate Diploma in Conservation of Rare Books and Manuscripts
September 2023 - April 2024
The University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton Associate Fellowship in Higher Education
Work History
January 2005 - November 2006
Book Conservator Conservation Unit, Commercial Studio attached to University of Dundee, Scotland
February 2006 - February 2020
Team Leader, Oriental Book Conservation Studio and BLCC, British Library, Conservation Studios, St Pancras, London 2010-15, 2004-2007 Book Conservator, Adopt a Book British Library, Conservation Studios, St Pancras, London, 2001-2004
January 2012 - January 2015
Parchment and Vellum Specialist,BLCC and Studio D, British Library, Conservation Studios, St Pancras, British Library
February 2020 - January 2022
Collection Care Monitoring Conservator, British Library, Preventive Conservation, St Pancras, London
January 2022 -
Programme Leader Conservation of Books and Library Materials West Dean College, School of Conservation, Chichester, West Sussex
Accredited Members
Mariluz Beltran De Guevara ACR
I am an expert book and paper conservator and have been accredited with Icon since 2008. I have over 20 years’ experience of working both in leading national institutions and in private practice.
I have no hesitation in recommending Mariluz as a highly professional, skilled and knowledgeable conservator. She has a great understanding of book structures, a real feel for materials and their interaction and a strong intelligence in her approach to work. The quality of Mariluz's work is a testament to her passion for her work. Her enthusiasm is infectious, making her great to deal with as well.
Vicki Humphrey
Former Head of Conservation, British Library and National Museum of Australia
The service she offered was remarkable. She picked up delicate books, pictures, and documents from our home and returned them transformed. She stabilized delicate book-bindings and provided protective cases for the most vulnerable, saved drawings and autograph letters on paper from further deterioration, and she completed the work efficiently and without fuss. I recommend her work most warmly.
Jeremy Schonfield
Private Client