Rebecca Kench ACR

28 Nov 2025

My specialism is in the conservation of easel paintings on canvas and panel. I trained at the Hamilton Kerr Institute, Cambridge, competing my diploma in Easel Painting Conservation in 1999. Based in the North West, I have worked extensively within a national museum. For the past fifteen years I have also undertaken freelance work for public institutions, galleries and private clients, working on paintings from the sixteenth century to the present.

I have a passion for preserving artworks for present and future generations. Every painting is treated with the same care, whether it’s a Monet in a museum or a painting owned by a private client with greater sentimental significance than monetary value.

My practice focuses on treating, stabilising, conserving and where needed, restoring paintings, to ensure their long term preservation whilst maintaining the integrity of the original art work.

Based in the Wirral, I am happy to work insitu, or for works to be transported to my studio in the Wirral or Liverpool. I also provide practical support for exhibitions and loans, including condition checking, couriering, and on-site conservation work across the UK.

Specialisms

Conservation of paintings (canvas and panel,16th century to present)
Structural conservation of panels and canvases
Painting cleaning, consolidation and varnish removal
Conservation support for exhibition, loan and transport
Condition assessment, surveys and conservation planning

Painting Treatments

Cleaning and removing surface dirt
Removing discoloured varnish
Consolidating flaking painting
Repairing tears in canvas and splits in panels
Treating and integrating pest damage
Fully integrating any area of damage through retouching
Lining small paintings if necessary
Preventive measures such as stretcher linings and securing keys

Work for exhibitions and loans

Time and treatment estimates
Exhibition condition checking as required
Advising and overseeing packing and couriers (in-person and virtual)
Working with art handlers/technicians
Advising on venue suitability for loans
Condition reports for private and public institutions prior to loan
Carrying out minimal work on a painting to ensure is it safe for travel
Carrying out preventive work to a painting
Liaising if necessary between client and borrower
Acting as a courier

Courier work

I have couriered art works to numerous institutions in the UK, Japan, Europe and the US
I have worked as, and with a virtual courier
I can work as a book end courier

Survey work

Undertaking surveys of entire collections
Assessing and documenting work needed
Identifying future conservation needs
Helping to prioritise a treatment programme
Helping with storage and display advice

Documentation and insurance

All work is fully documented with photography
I work with a local professional photographer if required
An estimate is produced in advance of any work and agreed with my client
I am professionally insured with public liability and professional indemnity.

Painted panel before treatment

Panels that have been split for many years can be treated. This small panel had been stored split in two by the owner for many years. It was riddled with woodworm, which in some cases had eaten through to the paint layer.

Painted panel after treatment

The woodworm was treated first and the reverse was stabilised and filled. The old discoloured varnish was removed, the panel was rejoined and a new corner was made and painted to integrate with the original.

Consolidating raised or flaking paint

A heating failure caused this painting owned by a private client to flake. Raised or flaking paint not only looks unsightly, but poses a serious risk to the painting. In most cases this can be consolidated (laid back down in plane with the original paint layer). In many cases, such as this, all of the original paint was there and no filling or retouching was needed.

Before removing surface coatings

Removing discoloured surface coatings can make a huge difference. This canvas painting was extremely discoloured. It had heavy surface dirt, discoloured varnish. It belonged to the clients parent and they were very keen to return it to the condition that it had been in when their parent had received it as a gift.

After removing surface coatings

Removing the discoloured layers on top of the paint and repairing the tear transformed it.

Canvas tear treatment

Tears in canvas are best aligned quite soon after they happen, before the canvas gets a chance to distort. In this case, the tear was several years old and the corner had folded over. It was still possible to pull it closer to alignment, and to use a small piece of canvas to insert the missing area. The result is an almost invisible repair.

Rebecca cleaned, repaired, and retouched a damaged oil painting of a cow that had been sitting above the fireplace in the family house in France. She gave us different options and advice and has done an amazing job of bringing the painting back to life again. We (and the whole family) are incredibility pleased with the outcome. Rebecca also traced the artist, helping us piece together its history. She is a delightful person to work with: she loves her work, is very caring, knowledgeable, and professional. We were lucky to find her and can highly recommend her.

Private Clients, Liverpool

Our wooden panel painting had suffered a catastrophic fracture leaving one panel unattached. Rebecca understood our concerns for the painting and her comprehensive assessment of the painting was very reassuring. Rebecca was thorough and diligent and kept us informed throughout the conservation process. We found Rebecca engaging and her enthusiasm for the care of the painting was illustrated by being there for the delivery and the re-hang. We are extremely pleased with the end result and would not hesitate to use Rebecca again and to recommend her.

Peter Oglivie

Collections Manager, Salford Museums & Art Gallery

Rebecca Kench ACR

Over 25 years’ experience as a Paintings Conservator at National Museums Liverpool
Internships with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and National Museums Liverpool
Trained in Easel Painting Conservation at the Hamilton Kerr Institute, University of Cambridge
ICON Accredited Conservator (ACR) since 2006
15+ years of freelance conservation work alongside institutional role
A member of ICON’s UK Museums & Heritage Sustainable Packing Group

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