Critchlow & Kukkonen Ltd

02/06/2026

This was such a fantastic painting to work on... What a transformation indeed!

31/05/2026

We were thrilled to feature in the BBC news this weekend ✨

Eeva Kukkonen works on paintings for stately homes, museums and galleries across Yorkshire.

28/05/2026

We have been very excited to be conserving the amazing Portrait of King Charles I by studio of Sir Anthony van Dyck,1635-36. This painting once belonged to Sir Godfrey Copley, who lived at Sprotborough Hall near Doncaster. Last year it was generously donated to Danum Gallery, Library and Museum

Here is a sneak peak of the early stages of the process. Stay tuned to see what happened next:

1 – Retouching paint losses
2 – Detail of varnish removal
3 – Detail during removal of yellow varnish
4 – Before treatment
5 – After varnish and over-paint removal

14/05/2026

We have just completed the conservation of 'Mountsorrell Marketplace", 1842, by John E. Ferneley, from . This painting is brimming with interesting intricate details that were covered by old grime, varnish and over paint. Following conservation they are visible again!

1 - Surface cleaning
2 - Before treatment
3 - After treatment
4 - 9 - Details before and after
10 - Remnants of signature became more visible
11 - Conservation framing
12 - Back in the frame beautifully conserved by Mike Howden

13/05/2026

It was a joy and privilege to work on this painting... What a transformation!

13/05/2026

It was a privilege to be involved in this project... We will post more about the conservation journey soon!

06/05/2026

We were delighted to have the Volunteer Film Team from Wentworth Woodhouse at the studio this morning...

Watch this space for an upcoming film following the conservation of their family portrait of Charles, Lord Higham and his sister, Lady Charlotte Wentworth (18th century) by Philippe Mercier.

🎥 🎨

23/04/2026

Recently we had a chance to prepare 'Helios' by Gillian Ayres, 1990, from Leeds Museums and Galleries for a loan.

We cleaned the intricate impastoed paint layers, the reverse and attached a stretcherbar lining to reduce vibrations during travel. Such a joyous painting to work on!

16/04/2026

Varnishing day!

Pictured:

-Lucy C suited and booted in all the PPE
-Our trusty spray gun
-The semi-shiny synthetic varnish mixture warming up on a hot plate..

14/04/2026

We have just completed the conservation of the ‘View of Kirkstall Abbey’ ⛪️for Leeds Museums and Galleries. The treatment included consolidation of fragile paint layers, removal of various coatings or dirt and varnish, tear repairs and lining, filling and retouching.

1 – Before treatment, raking light
2 – Before treatment, normal light
3 – During varnish removal
4 – After filling of the losses
5 – After treatment
6 – Reverse, before treatment
7 – Reverse, after treatment
8 – Reunited with the frame that was conserved by Mike Howden