Bringing Art Back to Life: The Growing Demand for Oil Painting Cleaning and Restoration

In recent months, there’s been a noticeable rise in the number of people bringing their oil paintings and watercolours, in for cleaning and restoration. What might once have been seen as a service reserved for museums and serious collectors has now become something art lovers, homeowners, and families alike are embracing — and for good reason.

Not only does having a painting cleaned and professionally restored breathe life back into the artwork, but it can also add considerable value.

Over time, dust, dirt, smoke, and aged varnish can all build up on the surface of an oil painting. This layer of grime can dull the colours, flatten the texture, and obscure the fine details the artist originally intended to be seen.

In some older watercolour paintings or drawings, small brown spots known as foxing can develop over time. This is a common issue — and one that I can safely and professionally remove.