Critchlow & Kukkonen Ltd

10/09/2026

'Hercules' by Nicholas Heude, 17th C painting from Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust Drumlanrig Castle & Country Estate came to us for some much needed care.

The paint layers were badly flaking, the canvas torn with deformations, the colours disguised by thick layers of grime and discoloured varnish.

The conservation process started at Drumlanrig Castle where the painting was stabilised for transit to our studio. Following over 300h of conservation treatment the painting was finally returned to its home last month, where we framed it and it was installed by the in-house team.

Last summer we had some help with the conservation process from our work placement students and .morgan.art
The frame was expertly conserved by Mike Howden, ACR .

Swipe to see more about the process!

03/09/2026

🔍 History meets detective work?
A painting that's been keeping its secrets for centuries is now under the spotlight - and welcoming an audience.

From 3-18 September at Nostell NT , heritage scientists are carrying out a live investigation of a painting of Sir Thomas More and his Family. Using cutting-edge imaging technology to uncover clues hidden beneath the paint surface, visitors can watch the work as it happens and follow the exciting search for answers.
When was it painted? How much has it been altered over time, and by who?”
You can see this fascinating process take place from today until 18 September.

For further information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nostell

03/09/2026

We were very excited to be at Nostell NT earlier this week to help take down, deframe and move the huge portrait of Thomas More and his family upstairs, so it can undergo some exciting technical analysis. You can go see this happening at Nostell Priory over the next few weeks!

28/08/2026

We have just completed the treatment of ‘Lady Emma Stephenson’, c. 1900 by Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope from The University of Sheffield.

This painting had been badly affected by mould growth and bloomed varnish, disguising much of the colour and detail of the original paint layers. Following consolidation of flaking paint, cleaning, varnish removal and retouching she is totally transformed!

27/08/2026

We have been working on 'The Dancing Lesson', a gorgeous tiny painting by James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) from Sheffield Museums.

We have found some exciting details, including various pigments showing up in Ultraviolet light - see the bright rose madder hair band, barely visible in normal light!

We were also thrilled to find the artist's finger print!

04/08/2026

It was an honour to conserve the first in a series of family portraits for Wentworth Woodhouse - and have the process and exciting discoveries captured in "Mysterious Mistaken Identity! Family Facelift - Part 2"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTF9_FI9fKo

Follow the restoration journey of the first of a series of historic family portraits still hanging at Wentworth Woodhouse. In Part 1 we saw the painting removed, but during cleaning the Conservator discovered details which had been hidden for over 244 years and which prove that everything we thought we knew about the painting and who is in it... is untrue!

If you'd like to support this exciting project to restore the remaining family portraits and uncover their hidden secrets please give what you can using the link below:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/restoring-portraits

Support the Trust
Wentworth Woodhouse is a masterpiece in the making. Your views, likes, and subscriptions directly support the ongoing restoration of one of England's grandest stately homes.
Donate: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/helpshapeourfuture
Become a Member: https://wentworthwoodhouse.org.uk/community/support-us/my-wentworth/
Plan your visit: https://wentworthwoodhouse.org.uk

Follow the restoration journey of the first of a series of historic...

03/08/2026

We are delighted to be featured in Living North Magazine this month... Now on sale but here's a sneak preview...

13/07/2026

Last week we were delighted attend 'From Ruin to Revival: A Celebration' - a private view celebrating conservation, restoration and redisplay of 18th century portraits and family portraits from Sizergh Castle NT.

In 2023 a burst pipe above the Drawing Room caused severe water damage to the interior and collection, including thirteen easel paintings. Together with frame conservator Mike Howden, paintings conservator Julia Dalzell and furniture conservator John Wynn Griffiths, we treated the range of artworks - which are now back on display for the public to enjoy.

The aftermath of the flood, the painstaking studio conservation work and the re-display of the artworks has been captured on film by the talented TripleDotMakers. We hope we can share the film with you very soon!

1 - Enjoying the private view with newly conserved paintings, furniture and interior in the Drawing Room at Sizergh Castle.

2 - From left to right, furniture conservator John Wynn Griffiths, paintings conservator Julia Dalzell, our own Lucy Critchlow, and frame conservator Mike Howden with the conserved tortoiseshell cabinet and some of the conserved paintings.

3 to 4 - Enjoying the beautifully presented canapés.

5 - Lucy C arriving on bike at the private view.

6 - Showing of the conservation film by Manchester based Triple Dot Makers.

7 - Entrance this way...

8 - Another shot of another sensational canapé.

08/07/2026

Last night we were delighted to attend the VIP launch of the exhibition "Echoes of the House: Stories in Light and Motion" Wentworth Woodhouse!

1 - Our team enjoying the sunny evening
2 - 4 Echoes of the House display installations
5 - William Denton, Butler of the house in 1800s
6 - Never too old to play
7 - The marble Saloon
8 - prideofyorkshiretrail lion inspired by the marble Saloon
9 - What a view!
10 - Lucy reunited with her recent project (more about that later..)
11 - What a great night - Thank you!

25/06/2026

"I love and only love the fairer s*x and thus beloved by them in turn, my heart revolts from any other love than theirs." (Anne Lister, January 29, 1821)

What a better way to celebrate pride month than to look back twelve years to the conservation work we carried out on one of the only portraits of the q***r icon Anne Lister. This painting, attributed to Joshua Horner, belongs to Calderdale Museums and can be viewed at Shibden Hall.

The conservation work involved surface cleaning, removal of discoloured varnish layers and retouching of damages.