ABOUT ME
I am a fully qualified and highly experienced Book & Paper Conservator and an Accredited member of the Institute of Conservation. Alongside my freelance work, I worked at the British Library Centre for Conservation for over a decade carrying out conservation treatments on a wide range of paper-based material from the 15-20th centuries. Find out more about my book conservation work at my website www.vickywest.com.
I have a wealth of knowledge and skill in all aspects of preservation and conservation with a special interest in photographic conservation and archive management. I will bring a big picture approach to our work together as well as meticulous attention to detail. My graphic design background and aesthetic eye means that not only will your archive be given a sense of order and context but will look beautiful too.
QUALIFICATIONS
Accredited Conservator-Restorer - Institute of Conservation 2014
Find me on the Conservation Register
MA Book & Paper Conservation (Distinction) - Camberwell College of Arts 2007
Graduate Certificate in Bookbinding & Book Restoration (Distinction) - London College of Communication 2005
I have full Conservator’s Insurance including Professional Indemnity and Goods in Transit. I hold a current DBS certificate.
HOW I WORK
After an introductory phone or video call to discuss your needs, we will arrange an in-person consultation which will be based around assessing your collection; the quantity of material, the condition of the items and its current storage format. I will look at the environmental conditions in the location of your collection and assess whether it is suitable for long term preservation purposes.
We will discuss what your desired outcome is for the project; what format your new archive will take and how it will be presented, looking at different types of display albums and storage materials and discussing how future additions will be incorporated. This will enable me to estimate the time and logistics involved.
As each archive is unique, I offer a completely flexible service tailored to your requirements. You may choose to be very involved in the process from start to finish; for instance you might like to specify captions for photographs or write them in your own hand. Alternatively, you could hand me some boxes and I will do the rest! Either way this will involve some planning to decide on the ordering and categorisation of the material – for example, by production/project. We will also agree a schedule of how, where and when the work will be carried out.