Director Alan Lamb

“Visiting the studio to find mountains of clay being transformed into river gods, trophies, cornucopiae and bouquets of shells was the nearest anyone today could come to witnessing the studio of a great baroque sculptor such as Bernini at full tilt.” Jonathan Marsden Director of the Royal Collection and Surveyor of The Queen’s Works of Art.

“I called at Uppark on Saturday to see your pier glass and table. They are a triumphant success. Until you look under the table it is impossible to know that it is not the original; the carving is of very high quality indeed. So this letter brings you the thanks and appreciation of us all at the National Trust” Martin Drury, Former Director General of The National Trust and Chairman of the Landmark Trust.

Alan trained at London’s Metropolitan University. From 1997 to 2007 he taught on the City & Guilds of London Art School Conservation BA course, and for the last 10 years has also held the post of Head of Historic Carving at City & Guilds, responsible for the UK’s leading graduate and postgraduate courses in stone carving and wood carving. He recently left the college to concentrate on his commercial work. Since 2007 he has been master carver on the “Virtue’s Angels” project at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, overseeing the design and production of forty new sculptures for the chapel. Alan recently designed and produced the sculptural work for the Royal Barge for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee River Pageant.

                  In 1992 in the wake of the National Trust restoration of Uppark                   House Alan assembled a small team of experienced wood and                   stone carvers, gilders and conservators, and founded Swan Farm                   Studios to undertake the conservation and restoration of sculpture, stone carving ornamental plasterwork and fine woodwork. Very high level traditional craft skills and strong links with the conservation departments of major collections and teaching institutions, ensured an approach that combined the best of traditional craft techniques with an awareness of ongoing academic, scientific and ethical developments  within the conservation world. This ethos continues to define our work. Our clients have included The National Trust, The Landmark Trust, Historic Royal Palaces, The Royal Household, Cadw and individuals as diverse as Lord Leicester and Mick Jagger, and projects have included work on the following; The Royal Barge Windsor Castle St George’s Chapel Windsor Dorchester Abbey The Tower of London Worcester Cathedral Somerset House Uppark House  Chastleton House Mount Stuart  Knole House New College Oxford Oriel College Oxford Trinity College Oxford Castletown Cox Queen Ann’s Summerhouse What we do We carry out the conservation and repair of sculpture, stone carving, woodcarving ornamental plasterwork and fine joinery and their related finishes including gilded  and painted surfaces. Joinery and fine woodwork Including woodcarving, panelling, screens, doors, shutters and windows. Surface cleaning and the conservation or restoration of finishes. Consolidation and re-backing of badly decayed timber. Replacement of missing or badly decayed structural or decorative elements. The conservation of woodcarving and replacement carving. Gilding and polychrome Cleaning and conservation of blazoning and other architectural polychrome Gilding conservation and re-gilding on wood stone. Oil gilding on internal and external ironwork. Frame conservation/restoration Stone carving Surface cleaning of decorative stonework Consolidation of decorative stonework Replacement of badly decayed or missing stone carving Sculpture conservation/repair Aesthetically  sensitive cleaning, retaining appropriate levels of patination. Ethically considered restoration including replacement of poor quality older repairs and replacement of missing elements when appropriate. Facsimile sculpture and carving The production of accurate facsimile carvings or sculptures to replace originals removed from exposed locations, or lost to fire or theft. Condition reports, treatment proposals  and estimates can be provided. Final reports with supporting photographic records to archival standards  can be provided where required. The work is carried out using traditional techniques and materials wherever possible. These are generally reversible and visually and structurally appropriate. The aim is to leave the work looking well cared for but not over-restored. The object is always assessed in relation to its current use and its setting, both in terms of the finish and function of the piece and in the recommendations we give on future care, maintenance and environmental control.

Swan Farm Studios Ltd,  Company Number. 8413714, Registered office, 6 South Street, Woodford Halse , Northants,  NN11 3RF