Critchlow & Kukkonen Ltd

25/06/2026

"I love and only love the fairer s*x and thus beloved by them in turn, my heart revolts from any other love than theirs." (Anne Lister, January 29, 1821)

What a better way to celebrate pride month than to look back twelve years to the conservation work we carried out on one of the only portraits of the q***r icon Anne Lister. This painting, attributed to Joshua Horner, belongs to Calderdale Museums and can be viewed at Shibden Hall.

The conservation work involved surface cleaning, removal of discoloured varnish layers and retouching of damages.

23/06/2026

Yesterday afternoon Lucy C was thrilled to take part in The Institute of Conservation (ICON) Paintings Group Event: 'Treatment Cycles for Easel Paintings' as part of the ICON 26 Conference.

Presenting on zoom alongside some fascintaing talks by Sarah Staniforth, Julia Nagle, Clare Finn and Devi Ormond, Lucy's talk was entitled...

"A journey back in time with the National Trust"
.. and detailed the conservation and restoration of the Mallory Family Portrait of c. 1649 by English School from Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust

23/06/2026

We are delighted to share an overview of our conservation and restoration of the large scale Mallory Family Portrait from the mid 17th century from Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust.

The painting came to our studio last July and after Infrared Reflectogram, Microscopic Paint Sample and thorough studio analysis we began treatment... The painting is now on display for visitors to enjoy at Fountain's Hall after nearly 50 years in storage!

1. Front, Before Treatment - with protective tissue facing adhered to the whole front of the fragile painting over 40 years ago!

2. Detail photograph taken during removal of yellowed varnish and discoloured retouchings

3. Whole Front, after cleaning

4. Action Shot - showing Lucy C and Pauline Murray removing a thick layer of glue-paste adhesive after de-lining a two layered lining canvas.

5. Action Shot - showing Lucy C and Pauline re-lining the fragile canvas onto a polyester sailcloth lining canvas.

6. Action Shot - showing Pauline retouching damages to the boy's dress.

7. Action Shot - showing Lucy C varnishing the conserved painting.

8. Whole Front, After Treatment

9. Action shot - rolling the canvas onto a cylinder with freelance technician and joiner Andrew Greenway, so that the painting could be safely transported to the first floor Great Chamber at Fountain's Hall.

10 - 11 Action Shots - manoevering the rolled canvas up the external winding stone staircase to the narrow back doorways of Fountain's Hall, with art transport and installation firm Constantine.

12. Action Shot - preparing to unroll the cavnas from its cylinder - in the Great Chamber of Fountain's Hall.

13. Action Shot - the lined canvas is now tensioned onto its new stretcher and Eeva is securing keys to the reverse.

14. Front, Framed, After Treatment - the finished painting is displayed in its new frame constructed by frame conservator Mike Howden.

15. Action Shot - Lucy C and Eeva with the framed painting safely installed in the Great Chamber of Fountain's Hall.

20/06/2026

Throwback to Friday! This is what got up to yesterday...

1 - Eeva applying an isolating varnish on a 17th c panel painting
2 - Lucy C working on a talk for the Institute of Conservation (ICON)
3 - Photographing paintings at different stages of treatment
4 - Lucy P editing said photos
5 - Dusting a frame for a private client
6 - zzzz

02/06/2026

This was such a fantastic painting to work on... What a transformation indeed!

31/05/2026

We were thrilled to feature in the BBC news this weekend ✨

Eeva Kukkonen works on paintings for stately homes, museums and galleries across Yorkshire.

28/05/2026

We have been very excited to be conserving the amazing Portrait of King Charles I by studio of Sir Anthony van Dyck,1635-36. This painting once belonged to Sir Godfrey Copley, who lived at Sprotborough Hall near Doncaster. Last year it was generously donated to Danum Gallery, Library and Museum

Here is a sneak peak of the early stages of the process. Stay tuned to see what happened next:

1 – Retouching paint losses
2 – Detail of varnish removal
3 – Detail during removal of yellow varnish
4 – Before treatment
5 – After varnish and over-paint removal

14/05/2026

We have just completed the conservation of 'Mountsorrell Marketplace", 1842, by John E. Ferneley, from . This painting is brimming with interesting intricate details that were covered by old grime, varnish and over paint. Following conservation they are visible again!

1 - Surface cleaning
2 - Before treatment
3 - After treatment
4 - 9 - Details before and after
10 - Remnants of signature became more visible
11 - Conservation framing
12 - Back in the frame beautifully conserved by Mike Howden

13/05/2026

It was a joy and privilege to work on this painting... What a transformation!

13/05/2026

It was a privilege to be involved in this project... We will post more about the conservation journey soon!