The Minerva Workshop
Building on 15 years of conservation experience, Minerva Stone Conservation has responded to increasing demand for its skills and created a new facility for workshop based conservation and repair to monuments and sculpture, to compliment our other in situ based works. The workshop is based in Frome, Somerset and has excellent facilities, including large floor space, cranage, lots of storage space and a range of analytical equipment. This means we are able to work on a wide variety of pieces, from small decorative sculptures to large public monuments. We undertake and advise on projects throughout the UK and further afield.
Please follow this link to see how one of our regular clients views our work. http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/content.php?nID=23
The workshop is managed by 2 of Minervas' senior staff, Christina Kay and Neil Pickering, their resume's are outlined below.
CHRISTINA KAYE.
WORK HISTORY- 25 years experience in buildings, monument and sculpture
conservation.
Three year apprenticeship on Wells Cathedral, West Front under Professor
Baker, starting 1981.
Over the subsequent years I have worked on a wide variety of buildings
and artifacts. To name a few:
- Wells Cathedral Cloister Monuments
- Limestone, high-relief carving by Eric Gill
- Winchester College medieval figures and niches
- Salisbury Cathedral West Front figures
- Temple of Harmony limeplaster conservation
- Tower of London monuments report
I am experienced in thelime conservation techniques including caesin based repairs; marble, sandstone and polychrome cleaning, repair and consolidation; decorative lime plaster cleaning, repair and consolidation. I see clear, detailed reports of works completed as an essential part of the process.On a more personal note, I care for our architectural heritage and strongly believe in quality, integrity and honesty in all that I do as conservator both for my generation and the generations to follow.
NELL PICKERING, Resident in Frome, Somerset
WORK HISTORY - I have had 15 years experience working on a varied number
of lime conservation jobs. To name but a few:
- Apprenticeship with St Cuthbert Conservation starting 1992 for 4 years
- Repair and re-modelling window tracery at Chedzoy Church
- Extensive lime conservation works at Axminster Church
- Polychrome conservation and re-lettering to Maximillian Noreys monuments
from the church of St Hellier on Jersey.
- Re-modelling volutes and acanthus leaves at Newton Park, Bath Spa University
Since my apprenticeship with St Cuthberts' I continued to work for them
as part of their experienced team, expanding my understanding and knowledge
of the lime conservation techniques. By this stage I was working both as
part of a team and managing jobs on my own.
In 2004 I joined Minerva Conservation and have subsequently been promoted
to conservation manager in the company and have over-seen the conservation
works at St Stephens' church tower and the lime conservation job at Newton
Park (Bath Spa Uni.)
Having worked extensively in the community arts prior to my conservation apprenticeship I see that I have expanded my natural understanding of materials, line, colour and form through the work that I have done inthe conservation field. I feel passionately rooted to my English heritage, and working with our buildings, monuments and sculpture helps me to feel part of the important decision making process which will keep them safe for generations to follow.