With a background in art history and a passion for preserving cultural heritage, I trained in Conservation at City & Guilds of London Art School (C&G), specialising in the treatment of polychrome objects. During my time there, I was fortunate to study under experts including japanning specialist Margaret Ballardie and gain valuable hands-on experience with Pauline Plummer, a leading conservator of medieval polychromy.
After graduating, I broadened my practical knowledge through internships with esteemed institutions such as SRAL in Maastricht and KIK-IRPA in Brussels. I also spent over four years at CRRCOA in Vesoul, France, working on religious sculpture and composite altarpieces in collaboration with colleagues across Holland, Belgium, and France.
A one-year HLF Icon internship further deepened my expertise in decorative surfaces on furniture. This included specialist training in wood finishing techniques, experience with Urushi lacquer in workshops run by TOBUNKEN, and a wide range of decorative surface treatments. I later spent six years at Tankerdale Limited, conserving fine furniture alongside highly skilled professionals.
Continual professional development is essential in conservation. I regularly update my practice through collaboration, training, and knowledge sharing, maintaining accredited status. Since 2015, I have also served as a visiting lecturer at City & Guilds, nurturing future conservators.
My special interests include the identification and analysis of Asian lacquer and European japanning. I also offer basic in-house materials analysis to support treatment decisions and documentation.
Client testimonials
We employed Sophie Barton from Temple Studios to restore a number of frames that had losses and needed consolidation. She has been professional and proactive throughout the process, from her initial consultation to the work on site and her post site report. Working with care and detailed attention she has improved our collection’s appearance and stability greatly over the course of two days, moulding, casting and gilding where required. I would highly recommend her work.
Celia Hodges
House Steward Co-ordinator, Stansted House