Kate Gill ACR
Projects
About Me
Kathryn (Kate) Gill works as a Consultant, Practitioner and Lecturer in Textile and Upholstery Conservation on a freelance basis. She has 30 years experience in conservation; is an accredited conservator (ACR); a Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation (FIIC); a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
Consultant
Kate undertakes condition surveys of collections and individual objects, including treatment proposals and estimate reports; assists clients in identifying conservation priorities for long term care of collections; provides advice on preventive conservation strategies, exhibition planning, display, storage and handling. Provides advice on pest management and environmental monitoring.
Practitioner
Kate conserves all types of textiles, especially complex multi-media objects, including upholstery and furnishing textiles. Designs and fabricates customised mounts to assist in the support, display and interpretation of objects. Records condition and conservation processes on all objects in written reports, including photography (digital). Provides extended examination and documentation services for upholstery structures.
Teacher/Lecturer
Kate delivers short courses (career entry an CPD), lecture series and one-off lectures, and workshops in the UK and overseas.
Co-editor: Gill. K. & Eastop, D. (eds) 2001. Upholstery Conservation:Principles and Practice. Oxford:Butterworth-Heinemann
Talks to local groups
Kate presents a 'behind-the-scenes' view of conservation to a broad range of organisations e.g. historical and costume societies, schools and colleges, museums and art galleries, historic house associations.
Biographical Notes
Following training in the conservation of textiles and upholstery at the Textile Conservation Centre (TCC), England in the 1970s, Kate moved to the USA to set up the upholstery conservation section at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMA). After seven years at the MMA as Senior Conservator (1984-1991), Kate returned to the UK to take up a post of Senior Conservator and Lecturer at the TCC, University of Southampton where she worked for eighteen years. Since the TCC's closure on 31 October 2009 Kate has continued to combined practical conservation (textile and upholstery treatments) with teaching and research on a freelance basis.
Please note, this site is in the process of being re-built. Meanwhile, for further information, including an image-rich portfolio of work; full description of services provided; CV, including training; and up-to-date publication list, please visit Kate's website https://www.kategillconservation.co.uk
Client Testimonials
When the Brunel Museum acquired by auction in 2017 a pre-eminent collection of 28 watercolour designs, we were so excited at the prospect of acquiring a genuine collection of Brunel works relating to the famous 1843 Thames Tunnel that we scarcely noticed that with the collection came a large silk kerchief stapled onto a board! The Kerchief illustrated the Thames Tunnel project and future research will no doubt unearth many interesting stories as to why the family kept it with the designs. Once we had examined it we wondered whether we could realistically do anything for it. Kate Gill was then recommended to us and came up with a plan. We chose her for her obvious experience and depth of knowledge alongside a unique clarity in the way she explained her proposals to us. No stone was left unturned and nothing was left to chance or risks taken. It was helpful during the process that Kate gave us regular updates. At the end of the process we received a comprehensive report with illustrations which has been useful on a number of occasions for us. When we finally took delivery of the silk kerchief – the one we thought we might have to say goodbye to - we simply could not believe the transformation that had been achieved by Kate. All her work was within budget and programme with minimal fuss. We cannot recommend her work more highly.
