High-profile individuals who have a collection of material from their career that they have accumulated over the years  – for example, actors, musicians, comedians, writers and directors.

There is no need to pre-sort your documents and actually it is preferable to leave things as they are, to preserve their original context and help me with identification and chronological arrangement.

What would be helpful is to have a clear idea of the total amount of material that you have from the outset rather than adding things in gradually. It is also useful to think through what outcomes you are hoping for so that we get it right from the beginning.

As a conservator and archivist my role is not to discard material or declutter but to preserve what is significant and relevant. After an initial grouping of your materials into categories, we will review and discuss whether any items could potentially be set aside or removed.

I understand that certain items may hold sentimental value and you might have specific preferences about how they are treated.  My approach is to have a detailed discussion before work commences and plan a working method that suits your preferences.

The process will naturally involve some collaboration.  If you have an assistant familiar with your career, they may be able to answer questions or identify photographs. A detailed biography or timeline would be helpful as a reference point.  I will do my research to ensure a thorough understanding of your collection and will aim to keep queries to a minimum whilst working towards the outcome you want. 

This depends on several factors, including your location, the volume of material and your preferences. I can transport everything to my secure studio in North London or work onsite at your premises (if logistically possible) or a combination of both.  Please note that certain work must be carried out at my studio, such as handmade photograph albums, boxmaking and conservation treatments.

Understandably, you may have concerns about privacy or sensitive information within your archive. Let me reassure you with the following points:

• I achieved Accredited Conservator status in 2014 which means that as well as demonstrating a high level of competence and professionalism, I adhere to a strict ethical code of conduct and am accountable to the Institute of Conservation. Find out more here.
• I have a proven track record of discretion and confidentiality from my previous career as a costumier and personal dresser in the film and television industry, where I worked for the BBC, ITV and independent film production companies.
• For your complete peace of mind, I am happy to sign a Confidentiality/Non-Disclosure Agreement. I also hold a DBS certificate and have full Conservator's Insurance.

Generally, when I am working on an archive my focus is on identifying and categorising items as efficiently as possible rather than reading them in detail.

This depends on the amount and condition of the material as well as the level of organisation required. I will endeavour to use as little of your time as possible.  However, if you do wish to provide information or stories that can be added in, your archive will be all the richer for it. 

Particularly for photographs, adding context is really important as you may be the only person who knows the location, date and people in the image and so it is worth taking the time to record this.

Ultimately, any time invested now will save you more in the future as your newly accessible archive will make it easy to find what you want whenever you need it; material for books, memoirs and promotion ready to be used.

Absolutely. By taking steps to prepare your archive now, you retain full control over what is included and how it is presented.  This ensures that your legacy is curated according to your wishes, without leaving these important decisions to your partner, friends or relatives in the future.

Yes, I can sort through your collection and help identify a selection of photographs as well as preparing them for publishing by scanning/digitisation, digital alterations and retouching, preparing captions and credits and liaising with publishers.