As a fully accredited Paintings Conservator with decades of experience I offer wide-ranging services to a diverse list of clients always focussing on a museum-standard approach with experience ranging from medieval art to contemporary paintings. Through conservation I preserve, stabilising the existing material to avoid further deterioration. Through restoration, I return a painting to its original condition and meaning.
I believe that excellent treatment is based on fundamental understanding of the artworks. The aim is achieving the most with minimal intervention and finding the best possible solution for each individual artwork.
I balance my studio work with working onsite at historic houses, national museums and private collections. After running a business in London for many years I built a studio in Brighton which meets all the requirements with excellent security. Clients send their paintings to me from all over the country.
I have recently appeared in a couple of TV series for the BBC, “Hidden Treasures of the National Trust” and “Secrets of the Museum”. In 2024 I restored a large painting by Angelica Kauffman for Petworth House, National Trust, which hang in a special exhibition after completion showcasing the complex conservation treatment to the visitors.
Conservation & Restoration Treatment
Sophie undertakes all aspects of conservation and restoration of paintings in her studio whether they are preventive or remedial. The first step is developing a treatment plan, alongside an estimate of time and costs for the client to agree upon. These interventions could be anything from structural work like lining or local tear mending to consolidation of paint layers, surface cleaning, varnish removal , in-painting and new varnish application.
Photographic and written documentation are always created for future reference.Condition Surveys and Loan Preparation
Over the past 2 decades Sophie has undertaken many condition surveys to help collections developing a strategy on how to look after their paintings. She has created priority lists and given estimates for treatment.
She frequently prepares paintings for loan making sure they travel in their best possible condition to be part of an exhibition anywhere in the world. They are being accompanied by detailed loan reports.
Sophie also condition-checks paintings upon arrival and prior to their departure. On a couple of occasions, she has been couriering paintings to their destination.
Scientific Analysis
Examining a painting leads to a better understanding of the artwork. Looking at a painting in strong raking light can highlight changes. UV-light inspection will distinguish different stages of old restoration and varnish thickness.
Sophie takes paint samples to be sent to a conservation scientist to identify pigments, the paint medium and the different paint layers. This information can help to establish an artist’s palette, a possible date and the historical background.
Infrared Reflectography (IRR) and X-Radiography (X Ray) of paintings can reveal the artist’s underdrawings/ changes of the artist’s intention helping us to understand the creative process.
Macroscopic X-ray fluorescence analysis (MA-XRF) can establish the distribution of pigment over a large area through the characteristic radiation of certain elements present.
On-site work
Sophie has been working at many different historic houses and museums over the years. If the intervention is only minor, if it does not involve strong solvents or more invasive structural work, it is often preferable to treat paintings in situ rather than transporting them around.
In such cases it is often more beneficial for the client to charge a day rate rather than by the hour.Collections Care and Consultancy
Sophie advises on hanging, environment conditions and potential factors which can lead to deterioration. Conservation framing plays a very important factor for long term preservation and there are different materials to consider.
Sophie also helps with art historical research if required, often by reaching out to the relevant experts and also by developing strategies which help looking after a collection.
Detail of Angelica Kauffman, Diomedes and Cressida 1788
During retouching, image for the exhibition
Biography
Sophie Reddington ACR
Sophie was awarded the Icon Professional Accreditation for Conservator Restorers in 2011. She set up her business in 2004 and mainly takes on projects from national museums and heritage institutions such as the National Trust and English Heritage. She also works for private collector and commercial galleries.
She has taken part in several TV programmes for the BBC over the years and she share her research at conferences, which has been published in several books and magazines.
Sophie trained in Germany undertaking internships in renowned institutions (e.g. RED Duesseldorf), receiving her degree in Conservation and Restoration of Paintings at the Cologne Institute for Conservation Sciences (CICS) in 2001 (MA).Client testimonials
We have commissioned Sophie to conserve several paintings from the Wellington Collection at Apsley House over the past 10 years. She has always been a pleasure to work with and the standard of her treatments has been exceptional. I would have no hesitation in recommending her for any complex and challenging conservation work.
Dr Olivia Fryman
Keeper of the Wellington Collection, Apsley House London
Sophie has a great reputation in the conservation field and works to an exceptionally high conservation standard for both Museums and Heritage organisations and private owners. She is great at problem solving and takes on both routine and challenging conservation treatments from old masters to contemporary artists. Her treatments are backed up by excellent images and documentation. She is known for achieving a lovely final varnish and finish.
Rachel Turnbull, Alice Tate-Harte
Paintings Conservators (National Heritage Institution)
Pallant House Gallery has been working with paintings conservator Sophie Reddington since 2022 during which time she has worked on a number of key pieces in the Gallery’s significant collection of Modern British Art, supporting the ambitious exhibition schedule and our busy external loans programme including the iconic Michael Andrews The Colony Room I and most recently Colin Self Waiting Women and Two Nuclear Bombers (Handley Page Victors). The experience and considered approach that Sophie brings to her practice has quickly established her as a highly valued member of the freelance team and her input into the care and understanding of the Collection is invaluable.
Sarah Norris
Pallant House Gallary