Our committee

Francis Downing ACR, Trained as Paintings Conservator in Italy (Bari & Rome). In 1976 he established a Private Studio in the UK. 

From 1989 - 1997 he worked as a Forensic Conservator for North Yorkshire and other UK Police forces, as well as 'Interpol', during a long-term investigation into fraudulent paintings, which extended to other European Countries and the United States.

The Studio works for Private Clients, Historic Houses, Churches, National Trust, Museums and Galleries.

He is also an Associate Lecturer on the 'Fine Art Conservation' MA Course at Northumbria University.

Lizzie completed a BA in Art History followed by an MA in the Conservation of Easel Paintings before undertaking an internship at the Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limberg (SRAL) in Maastricht, Netherlands.

For the past 15 years she has worked as a freelance painting conservator for numerous museums, galleries, auction houses and private collections, both in the UK and abroad, including the V&A (London), The Asiatic Society (Calcutta) and the Orientalist Museum (Doha).

Clare trained first at Gateshead Technical College’s course on the Conservation of Easel Paintings, now run by Northumbria University before then studying in Zurich, Stuttgart and Rome.

She set up and ran the conservation departments at Coventry Museums. Coming to London, she set up her own conservation business and was a technical conservation consultant to Sotheby’s Impressionist department for 30 years.

Her doctorate is from the Royal College of Art, and it is on Picasso’s Decorative Metalwork. She has undertaken post-graduate research into Picasso’s bronze casting during WWII and is a member of the Picasso Bronze Project along with staff at the Musée National Picasso, Paris and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Rhiannon studied conservation and restoration for her bachelor’s degree, before specialising in the conservation of paintings, undertaking an MA in the conservation of fine art at the University of Northumbria.

She then worked as senior paintings conservator in the private sector for 14 years, before becoming a Senior Research Fellow in History & Heritage at the University of Lincoln in 2018

Jane McCree is a paintings conservator and joined the Tate Conservation Department as Head of Paintings & Frames Conservation in 2016. 

She initially studied History of Art & Architecture (BA – UEA) and Art Museum Studies (MA – Courtauld Institute of Art), later obtaining a PGDip in the Conservation of Easel Paintings from the Courtauld Institute of Art. She has held a research placement at MoMA, NYC and internships at the Hamilton Kerr Institute, University of Cambridge and Victoria & Albert Museum.

Prior to joining Tate, she was Head of Conservation at the Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin and lead conservator on major conservation projects for a wide range of national institutions. She has also worked internationally for museums and in private practice conserving a wide range of paintings with diverse issues. She has undertaken structural treatments on large scale paintings and specialises in the conservation of modern and contemporary paintings.

At Tate she leads a large team of paintings and frames conservators to deliver Tate's programme of exhibitions & displays, loans, acquisitions, across six sites. She has developed conservation strategy for collection care, champions practice-based research for the department and is a strong advocate for access and engagement with conservation research at Tate and beyond. She has supported a wide range of research projects including multiple treatment based and technical art history research projects, the Getty-Greenwich Lining Canvas Project and NanoRestart. She is currently leading on a research project with a focus on Conserving Contemporary Canvas.

Katarina holds a BA in History of Art from the University of Manchester and is currently pursuing an MA in Conservation of Easel Painting at Northumbria University. Alongside their academic studies, they work as a freelance writer and editor for magazines and websites, with experience spanning art history, conservation, archaeology, content creation, curation, and more. Katarina is also an active committee member of ICON’s Book & Paper group, working as a publications officer.

Alexandra Taylor is a paintings conservator at Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg (SRAL). She has worked internationally at the National Galleries of Scotland, Saltmarsh Paintings Conservation, and the Phoebus Foundation. Her interests lie in the treatment of Old Masters and the fundamental aspects of painting analysis and research. A Board Member of Restauratoren Nederland, she is passionate about increasing public awareness and promoting professional outreach in this field. She also serves on IIC committees and edits News in Conservation and The Picture Restorer.

Her interests lie in the treatment of Old Masters and the fundamental aspects of paintings analysis, research, and the valorisation of results.

Alexandra is a committee member for IIC and secretary for the Icon UK Paintings Group, as well as an assistant editor for "News in Conservation" and the BAPCR's "Picture Restorer". She is passionate about increasing public awareness and promoting professional outreach in this field.