Kate Newton ACR
Projects
About Me
Since 1995 Kate has lived and worked in Ceredigion, Wales, practicing as a paper conservator and adviser. She specialises in conservation assessments and treatments, preventive conservation and care of collections guidance. She works from her studio and on site for both private and public collections notably the National Library of Wales, Oriel Ynys Môn, National Trust and most recently Brecknock Museum, The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh, Chepstow Museum and National Museum Cardiff.
Kate trained in Paper Conservation at Camberwell School of Art and Crafts. She then worked as a conservation assistant for the Henry Moore Foundation followed by an apprenticeship in Jane McAusland's paper conservation studio in Suffolk.
In addition to self-employment she was employed by Monmouthshire Museum Service [2013-16] and the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea [2016-19] as Conservation Officer. She was awarded accreditation by the Institute of Paper Conservation [IPC] in 2000 and became a Continual Professional Development Review Reader and Professional Accreditation of Conservator Restorers Mentor for the Institute of Conservation [ICON] in 2011.
Client Testimonials
We have been working with Kate since 2018 on a selection of our paper objects identified for display within the new galleries at y Gaer, Brecon.
Kate spent a great deal of time with us discussing each objects conservation needs and the best solutions for its display, many of our selected objects had not been on display before and posed several challenging issues to bring them up to standard. The objects conservation included ongoing communication throughout the process and the final results were excellent. Kate was very flexible as our priorities changed in relation to the display requirements – and she was on hand to advise us as the new Museum opening approached. Her reports were thorough and have been extremely useful additions to each objects historical records. We were very grateful for her dedication and professionalism, and would use her skills again when the needs arose.
Nigel Blackamore, Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery
Senior Curator“I’m delighted to be able to provide this testimonial for Kate. The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh was fortunate to obtain grants from the National Manuscript Conservation Trust in both 2017 and 2019, and the Museum was equally fortunate enough to work with Kate on both projects. Kate was thorough and professional in her assessment of the documents involved, and also implicitly understood what the NMCT looks for when considering the treatments proposed by the chosen conservator. Kate’s contribution to the application process was invaluable, and I believe it was a major factor in its ultimate success. When completed, the work was of the highest possible standard and ensured both collections are now preserved for the long term.”
Richard Davies, The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh
CuratorKate Newton has carried out work on at least seventeen of my pictures, most
watercolours, and done an excellent job of conservation. She is extremely careful
and conscientious and when there was a problem she consulted me and went to
great lengths to carry out my wishes. I have no hesitation in recommending her -indeed, I have done so only recently and I am also about to send her a miniature
for her attention.
Monmouthshire
Private CollectionKate Newton has worked as a consultant paper conservator for the National Museum of Wales for several years. She has treated and prepared for loan many high profile and challenging works of art on paper, most recently including works by David Nash and Rubens. She has also worked on major exhibitions condition checking incoming works on loan. Kate has always been highly professional, diligent and thoughtful in her approach to all of her work and is a pleasure to work with, individually and as a valued team member.
Adam Webster ACR, National Museum Wales, Cardiff
Chief Conservator, Art, Natural Sciences and Preventive ConservationTraining
1980 Camberwell School of Arts & Crafts: Certificate in Paper Conservation: learning archive and art on paper conservation skills and theory. 2000 Gained Accreditation with Institute of Paper Conservation IPC 2006 Gained Accreditation with Institute of Conservation ICON
1980-2 Conservation Assistant to Paper Collections cataloguer, Henry Moore Foundation. Experiencing the daily care of works on paper – mainly preventive conservation and environmental monitoring; display and storage. Preparing items for loan. 1982-85 Paper conservation assistant to Jane McAusland Conservation Studio, Suffolk - learning and improving paper conservation skills predominantly works of art on paper: watercolours, prints and drawings.
Work History
1986-1994 Private conservation practice in Herefordshire. Clients: auction houses, museums, art galleries, private collections and sub-contractor to Sarah Bull ACR. 1994-2013 Full-time private paper conservation practice in Wales. Clients: museums, archives, libraries, trusts, private collections, sub-contractor to other conservators including Graeme Storey ACR
2002-2013 Working as part-time contractor for the National Library of Wales - Care of Western Art on Paper Collections including the Kyffin Williams Bequest. 2013-2016 Full-time paper conservator, Monmouthshire Museum Service based at Chepstow Museum. Duties included Income Generating for the Service and care of collections for four sites.
2016-2019 Part-time Conservation Officer, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea 2016-2019 Part-time self-employed Paper Conservator and Care of Collections Advisor. In 2019 return to full-time self employment, clients include: National Museum Wales, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Brecknock Museum, National Trust, Nottingham Contemporary, Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh, Scott House Museum WWT, private collections.
