What happens during oil painting restoration

People search for fine art restoration when a painting looks dull, has tears, flaking paint or old varnish that has turned brown. The process is methodical. Every step is documented so you know what was done and why.

Step 1: Condition assessment

We start with clear photos and, where possible, an in person look at the work. We note canvas or panel support, previous repairs, flaking areas, tears, and whether varnish or dirt is hiding the original paint.

On heritage panels we use magnification and ultraviolet light to map later overpaint, old varnish residues and weak paint film before any wet cleaning. That inspection stage is documented on church projects such as the Heritage Lottery Fund altar scheme at St Marie's Church, Widnes.

You receive a plain English condition summary and a proposed treatment plan before any work begins.

Step 2: Surface cleaning

Decades of dirt, smoke and yellowed varnish can mute colour. Where a removable varnish layer survives, dirt often lifts with the varnish. When dirt sits directly on bare paint, as on some ecclesiastic wood panels, cleaning must be slower and more selective.

We use conservation grade materials (for example synthetic saliva and diluted conservation soaps), soft swabs, poultices only where needed, and constant checks that paint or gold leaf is not coming away. The goal is maximum dirt removal with minimum abrasion, not a quick wipe.

Step 3: Structural stabilisation

• Lining or relining weak or torn canvases
• Tear repair and thread alignment under magnification
• Consolidation of flaking paint so nothing is lost during further work

Step 4: Retouching and finishing

Inpainting fills losses so the image reads clearly again. On heritage work we prefer minimal intervention: consolidate flaking paint, retouch only where the story breaks down (often the face or lettering), and leave honest age elsewhere.

Removable conservation varnish protects the surface when appropriate, so a future restorer can clean embedded dirt without repeating aggressive work on the original paint.

Frames and private collections

We also restore frames and gilded surfaces. If you are dealing with insurance, probate or a family collection, ask about written condition reports for your records.