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Welcome
to the Robert Mitchell Oil Painting and Conservation Studio.
My first conservation studio opened in Chertsey Surrey on
the 1st of February 1971, relocating in 1974 to a second studio
in Weybridge Surrey. Returning again to Chertsey in 1987 to
develop my current conservation studio handling large and
small oil paintings of all ages. During that period I have
personally conserved over sixty thousand oil paintings making
the Robert Mitchell Studio one the most experienced in the
world. My wife Vicki is my studio assistant and my son Darrell
joined the studio around 18 years ago before moving to Australia,
after ten years in Brisbane operating his own conservation
and restoration Studio Gallery, Darrell returned and is now
an experienced partner in the business.
From 1968 to 1971 I researched, developed and built my own
Vacuum Conservation Hot Tables. In the 60's as an experienced
Permac Bowe dry cleaning Engineer my knowledge enabled me
to build the mechanical structure, heating beds, vacuum system
and the electrical control panels with very little difficulty.
My inventive nature led me to reject old fashioned hot iron
glue and Bees wax techniques(hot irons damage soft modern
paint) and concentrate on low pressure low temperature bonding.
Around 1990 I started to develop global warming friendly conservation
supports, currently using eight different types to suit the
problem and the age of the painting arriving at our Painting
Conservation Hospital. In 1977 I started the restoring and
Gilding of old frames. In 1992 Classic Fine Art Frames
was formed with Wayne Cooper to add the manufacturing of Bespoke
frames for dealers, galleries and artists . |