Stephen Umpleby ACR
Projects
About Me
Stephen Umpleby is an objects conservator and has been working in private practice since 2004 trading as Artefacts Conservation Services. He trained at DeMontfort University (2000-2002) and is an accredited member of the Institute of Conservation (ACR) and is listed on the Conservation Register. As well as working in private practice, he has also previously worked for Museum of London and National Trust and has held fellowships and internships at the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institute and National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh. He provides a service in all aspects of objects conservation of a wide range of materials and object types (both organic and inorganic), including social history, ethnography, natural history, decorative and applied arts. Additional services include condition surveys and assessments of individual objects and collections, exhibition checking, assessments for loan and storage, mounting objects for exhibition and display (fabricating museum quality display mounts), packing objects for transportation and educational handling collections, advising on storage and environmental control, and scale record drawing.
Client Testimonials
Stephen helped us renovate the museum’s discovery boxes. Our discovery boxes are designed for primary aged children and contain a mixture of real and replica items.
Stephen provided an excellent service, working with us to create the best design for showcasing our museum objects whilst also taking great care to ensure that they were stored securely. The final product was professional and very well designed, allowing easy access to all the items included. We have since sent more boxes to be renovated, and have been very happy with the results!
Jodie Altham
Learning and Outreach Officer, Elmbridge MuseumStephen has successfully undertaken three significant artefact conservation projects for us over the last 3 years.
These involved restoring wooden Boarding House War Memorial plaques, a metal Chapel Cross and thirteen metal Chapel plaques dedicated to Old Blues (Christ's Hospital alumni). The stabilised, conserved and aesthetically pleasing results are testimony to his expertise in this field, meticulous care and professional skills.
Laura Kidner
Museum Curator, Christ's Hospital School MuseumStephen was a pleasure to work with when re-displaying one of our exhibition cases earlier this year. He thoroughly understood our brief, and worked with us to get our project underway despite difficult circumstances during the pandemic. Stephen was very careful in considering the display and conservation needs of each object, and the installation process for the case was seamless.
Peggy Ainsworth
Collections Manager/Deputy Museum Director at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire MuseumStephen is a pleasure to work with, providing conservation work to an excellent standard with thorough reporting and documentation, clear communication and flexibility. Highly recommended.
Matt Brosnan
Head Curator, London Transport MuseumTraining
MA in the Conservation of Historic Objects, De Montfort University, Lincoln (Distinction)
Post Graduate Diploma in Conservation Studies, De Montfort University, Lincoln (Distinction)
MA Honours Fine Art, University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh College of Art (2:1)
International Academic Projects - Correspondence course "Chemistry for Conservators"
BTEC Foundation Studies in Art and Design, Lincoln College of Art and Design
Work History
National Trust, London and South East Regional Conservator (Part-time). Conservation consultancy for L&SE regional properties.
Museum of London, Conservator (Applied Arts) (Part-time). Practical and preventive conservation of applied arts and social history collections.
Artefacts Conservation Services (self-employed conservator in private practice) specialising in objects conservation. Conservation of organic and inorganic objects, mount-making, condition surveys (loan, exhibition, storage).
Conservation Summer internship, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of the American Indian, Washington D.C. Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in the Conservation Department of the NMAI, Cultural Resource Center. Survey and treatment of artifacts for an exhibit of Northwest Coast materials and exhibits in the new museum building on National Mall in Washington D.C. Collaboration with Native Peoples in the development of appropriate methods or care for, and interpretation of, their cultural materials.
Self employed conservator (freelance) working for private paper conservator, Edinburgh. Conservation of archival materials, architectural plans, works of art on paper.
