
Katherine Ara ACR
Projects
About Me
Katherine has worked as a practising paintings conservator-restorer in both the private and the museum sectors for more than twenty five years including at Tate, The Royal Collection Trust, and the Walker Art Gallery. Katherine established a paintings restoration studio in London in 1997, working initially for art dealers and auction houses, and more recently for private collectors. She works mainly on Italian and Netherlandish Old Masters and 18th century British painters, but also on Modern Masters and occasionally on contemporary works.
She graduated from Southampton University in 1985 with a BSc. in Biochemistry and Physiology before studying for a one year ‘Works of Art’ postgraduate diploma at Sotheby’s. She undertook her primary training in paintings conservation at Newcastle , receiving an MA in the Conservation of Fine Art, before working for a postgraduate diploma in the Conservation of Easel Paintings at the Hamilton Kerr Institute, Cambridge.
Katherine has published and spoken on materials and techniques of painting and restoration. She is an accredited member of ICON, a fellow of the AIC, the BAPCR and the IIC, and a contributing member of INCCA.
Training
Diploma in the Conservation of Easel Paintings - Hamilton Kerr Institute, University of Cambridge
MA in the Conservation of Fine Art - Newcastle Polytechnic
Diploma, Works of Art course - Sotheby's Institute
BSc. Hons, Biochemistry and Physiology - Southampton University
Work History
Director, Paintings Conservator-Restorer - Own private practice
Assistant Paintings Conservator - Simon Gillespie Studio
Contract Paintings Conservator - The Royal Collection
Assistant Paintings Conservator - National Museums & Galleries on Merseyside (Walker Art Gallery)
Getty Conservation Intern - Tate Gallery, supervised by Anna Southall