Art on paper

We are responsible for the care and conservation of the Museum’s rich holdings of prints, drawings and watercolours. There is a vibrant loans schedule and busy in-house exhibition programme to service and support. Through conservation and collections care we try to ensure that the collections can be made accessible without compromising their long-term preservation.

Typical studio work includes close examination and detailed documentation. When necessary this is followed by the careful removal of potentially damaging old repairs and supports, which are replaced with high quality alternatives. Sometimes more complex, interventive treatments may be needed, for example, to reduce disfiguring stains or sensitively re-integrate loss.  

We are also engaged in a variety of collaborative research projects and an active outreach programme.