Services — Workshops
Conservation
Salt, sun and time against canvas, timber and brass — watch our restorers fight all three in the open boatshop and studio.
What's included
Open studio
Painting restoration happens behind glass in the North Gallery — watch varnish come off and colour come back, weekdays 10:00–16:00.
Boatshop
Shipwrights caulk, splice and re-rig the floating collection in the courtyard shop. Saturday demonstrations at noon.
Heirloom advice
First-Thursday clinics: bring your ship's log, portrait or brass and our team will advise on care — free, booking essential.
On the easel now
This season's rescues
- 1A storm, unvarnished. Two centuries of yellowed varnish are coming off a great gale scene — follow the progress on the studio glass.
- 2New ribs for old. The cutter Alert gets five new oak frames, steamed and bent in the courtyard.
- 3Brass, bright again. Forty ships' bells and binnacles are being cleaned for the Lightkeepers show — volunteers welcome.
"They let my daughter hold the caulking iron. She talks about nothing else."
— A Saturday visitor
Good to know
Can you restore my painting?
We take a small number of private commissions each year and always advise honestly — start with a free first-Thursday clinic.
Can I volunteer in the workshops?
Yes — no experience needed for brass, rigging and documentation. Boatbuilding places need a short induction each spring.
Do you lend conservators to other museums?
Our team advises harbour collections across the coast. Write with your project and we'll see what the tide allows.