Can Anybody Learn Art Restoration in the UK?
                     Can Anybody Learn Art 
Restoration in the UK?

If you’re a collector of classic or modern paintings, it’s likely that you’ll eventually need to 
undertake art restoration. UK art lovers often approach the experienced team at Simon 
Gillespie for this very reason, keen to restore expensive and sentimental collections to 
their former lustre and glory. During these consultations, a common query is raised; is 
art restoration in the UK the sole reserve of galleries and private businesses, or can 
anybody learn the skill?
One thing needs to be made clear from the outset. Wherever you are looking for 
services in art restoration – the UK, Europe, the Americas or anywhere else – only a 
qualified and experienced hand should tackle the task. Restoring art that has been 
damaged, either through a mishap or the simple ravages of time, is not a duty for the 
faint of heart, and an inappropriate approach can cause more destruction than it 
resolves.
This does not necessarily mean you need to find professional 
art restoration services in UK and beyond, though that remains advisable. Our words 
were that only a skilled and qualified art restorer should take on the task. That could be 
you, or somebody within your inner circle – provided the person in question has 
undertaken the relevant training.
Several national colleges and adult learning centres offer courses in art restoration. UK-based 
art lovers have never been better placed to learn how to maintain their own collections, 
assuming they have a steady enough hand and the financial resources to enrol in a reputable 
class. The course in question will typically be simply labelled Art Restoration or some variation 
thereof.
Look deeper into any small print before committing, though. If your requirement revolves 
primarily around restoring vintage art from the Old Masters, for example, ensure your education 
is not centred on the restoration and preservation of contemporary and modern art. That will be 
a waste of your time, effort, and money – in addition to potentially damaging your art collection if 
you attempt to cross-pollinate incompatible techniques from old to the new.
To be realistic, anybody aiming to become qualified in art restoration in the UK should study full 
time for at least three years before feeling ready to tackle preservation projects. You certainly 
will not find anybody working in this capacity at Simon Gillespie with less experience, nor will 
any of our professional art restorers lack an MA in the subject at the very least. There is nothing 
to stop you from attempting to educate yourself, though. The team at Simon Gillespie will 
always remain on standby to offer advice, support, and assistance.
Contact US
Simon Gillespie Studio
Website - https://www.simongillespie.com/
Telephone - +44 20 7493 3900