About

Straddling between Time-Based Media and Art Handling for the past 15 years I have gained a unique and all-round set of technical and theoretical skills hard to find in most art technicians.

I can do anything from packing, unpacking, handling and installing a traditional framed painting or installing sculptures, to building a 6-metre-high tower made out of legacy analogue radios stacked on top of each other having first modified them one by one and then updated the cabling distribution system to get them to all work together.

I have extensive experience with analogue film projectors, from 16mm Eiki ones to obscure East-German 35mm Dresden projectors. I know how to handle and lace prints and how to run and operate custom-made loopers as well as carrying out maintenance and repairs on the projectors.

I am extremely at ease converting and encoding digital files in order to get them to play on analogue CRT monitors and other legacy analogue video display equipment.

Using video and audio editing suites is something I do on a regular basis and feel confident in doing in array of different situations.

I have an all-round expertise in prepping and delivering big gallery shows and installs where organisational and planning skills as well as communication skills (both written and verbal) are key in dealing successfully with a variety of different stakeholders including artists and artists' estates as well as other major national and international art lending institutions.

I have extensive experience of couriering art works domestically and internationally and while doing so, representing the institution I am working for. Couriering art works and overseeing their safe and correct installation in different venues and international institutions always presents an array of different situations and scenarios where thinking on your feet, having good people skills as well as speaking different languages all contribute to ensuring the artwork is handled in the required way.

I have many years of experience working side by side with artists and helping them realise their vision. I also have worked with artists’ estates where many key decisions had to be made keeping in mind the legacy and the aesthetic of the body of work left behind by the artists and ensure this was being respected.

The Tate Gallery, whom I have now worked with for many years, is recognised as one of the leading art organisations in the world; welcoming over seven million visitors a year, and producing an internationally renowned series of programmes relating to displays, exhibitions and education.

Tate holds the national collection of British art from 1500 and the national collection of international modern and contemporary art from 1900, including works of art and archival material. Tate is a family of four galleries, and I work across all of them, and each one has its own atmosphere, its own approach to programming and a unique history. At the heart of Tate is the Collection, currently numbering over 67,000 works spanning five centuries. Dealing with so many different types of artwork mediums has given me a huge range of experience.

Having first started in the art handling department, over the last few years I have been focusing on Time Based Media artworks working for the Conservation department.

Time-based media describes artworks that have as their medium film, slides, video, audio, performance, or software; they can be analogue or digital, but crucially they all have a durational aspect, or the "dimension" of time.

Within my role I provide technical expertise and support for all the works of art across Tate sites and for Tate programmes.

The Time-Based media conservation department I work within is responsible for the preservation, acquisition, exhibition, display and loan of these artworks.

As well as focusing on displays and exhibitions to prepare, we install and maintain equipment and media, developing and advising on specifications for storage, transit, installation, display and loans.

I work alongside conservators in the preparation, installation, and maintenance of time-based media artworks, supporting treatment and research to find solutions related to the care, preservation and display of Time-Based media artwork researching and formulating innovative approaches to solve complex technical problems using a full range of specialist techniques.

A key aspect of my job is to keep up-to-date on current thinking and best practice in own specialist field through Continuing Professional Development and sharing knowledge and expertise with colleagues.

As part of the Collections Care and Preventive Conservation Activity framework I have an active involvement in the design, development, and use of long-term collection care procedures, including those for packing, transport, storage, display, and installation and I develop and undertake maintenance strategies for artworks on display. I also develop artwork specifications, bespoke packing and plinths for time-based media artworks and equipment, create and update records for Tate’s Collection Management System (TMS) and create and update documents that form part of the Conservation artwork records.

Advise staff at all levels (conservators, curators, registrars, gallery managers) on technical requirements for works of art.

Undertake equipment maintenance across sites as required, including in storage.

Delivering and supporting Tate’s programmes requires providing accurate time and cost estimates for all activities.

Organising and delivering technical input on time and within budget for agreed projects.

Providing recommendations for Time-Based Media artworks including transport, handling, installation and display of works of art for Tate sites and loans programmes.

Undertaking specialist activities such as quality control checking of media and equipment.

Undertaking courier activity, overseeing the transport and installation of works of art at Tate and non-Tate sites.

Create and document display specifications and associated activity.

Support workplace activity and implement required Health and Safety measures.

My role also involves managing, supervising and at times training of staff as well as managing project teams and external contractors.

My journey so far has been full of all kinds of inspiring encounters and experiences which have shaped me as a person and a professional. For this I have to thank my passion and interest in art, art history and history which have truly enriched my live.