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Art Restorer
(Conservation Technician, Conservator, Restoration Artist, Artefact Conservator)
Creative & Media
Salary
€30,000 - €65,000/yr
Level
Professional
Outlook
Stable
Sector
Creative & Media
What does an Art Restorer do?
As an art restorer, you examine, stabilise, and repair damaged or deteriorating works of art, including paintings, sculptures, textiles, manuscripts, and decorative objects. You assess the physical and chemical condition of each piece, drawing on scientific analysis — such as X-ray imaging and pigment sampling — alongside art-historical knowledge to determine the most appropriate treatment. Your daily work involves applying specialised restoration techniques by hand, using both traditional materials and modern conservation products, while keeping meticulous records of every procedure carried out. You collaborate closely with curators, museum directors, archivists, and scientists, and may advise institutions on preventive conservation strategies to slow future deterioration. Employment is found in places such as the National Gallery of Ireland, the Office of Public Works (OPW), the National Museum of Ireland, local authority heritage services, and private conservation studios.
A Day in the Life
Listen: a day as an Art Restorer
You arrive at the conservation studio at half eight, sign in, and pull on a lab coat before checking your treatment log from the previous day. You are currently working on an eighteenth-century oil painting borrowed from a regional museum — a landscape with significant flake loss along the lower edge. Before touching anything, you review the condition report and the cross-section samples your colleague sent to a conservation scientist in Dublin for pigment analysis last week. By nine o'clock you are under the stereomicroscope, gently consolidating loose paint with a fine brush and a small amount of Paraloid B-72, an acrylic resin commonly used in conservation to stabilise flaking without altering the original surface. The work demands complete concentration; a shaking hand or a moment of distraction can cause irreversible damage. You document each area treated with photographs and written notes in the studio's digital records system.
Videos about Art Restorer
Career Advice on becoming a Restoration and Repair Manager by Steve S (Highlights)
icould career stories
Some videos were filmed in the UK. The work itself is the same, but the exams, qualifications and pay they mention are British — we include them so you get a feel for the job.
Required Education
A strong Leaving Certificate is the typical starting point, with subjects such as Art, Chemistry, Biology, History, and Physics providing a useful foundation for this technically demanding discipline. Most practising art restorers in Ireland hold an NFQ Level 8 Honours Bachelor degree in Conservation or Conservation and Restoration, such as the programme offered at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin. Many practitioners go on to complete a Level 9 postgraduate diploma or master's degree to develop specialist expertise in areas such as paintings conservation, paper conservation, or objects conservation. Practical placement in a museum, gallery, or conservation studio is a central component of Irish degree programmes and is considered essential for building hands-on competence. There is no single statutory registration body for conservation in Ireland, but membership of the Institute of Conservation (Icon) or the International Institute for Conservation (IIC) is widely recognised as a mark of professional credibility.
Required Skills
Career Perspective
Most Irish art restorers begin their careers through supervised placements or junior conservator roles within museums, galleries, or private studios, building a portfolio of practical work under experienced mentors. With several years of experience, you may progress to a senior conservator position with responsibility for managing complex projects, overseeing junior staff, and leading condition surveys of entire collections. Some practitioners go on to establish their own private conservation studios, working on commission for private collectors, auction houses, churches, and local authorities. Continued professional development through specialist training, publication, and membership of bodies such as Icon is important for career progression and credibility in this relatively small professional community.
AI Impact on the job
AI-powered imaging and analytical tools are increasingly used in conservation to detect underdrawings, identify pigment compositions, and model the likely progression of deterioration, making scientific assessment faster and more detailed. Machine learning algorithms can assist with the reconstruction of damaged or missing sections of works on paper or canvas by analysing stylistic patterns, though these outputs require expert human review and are used as a guide rather than a substitute for manual work. Database and documentation processes are being automated to a greater extent, freeing conservators to focus on skilled hands-on treatment rather than administrative tasks. Overall, AI serves as a powerful support tool in this profession, but the irreplaceable manual dexterity, ethical judgement, and art-historical knowledge of a trained conservator mean the human role remains central.
Career Ladder
→ Art Restorer (Current role)
Related Studies
Employers in Ireland
Organisations in Ireland that employ people in this occupation.
Dublin 2
Conserve and restore Irish and European paintings and works on paper
Dublin 2 / Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Preserve archaeological objects, textiles, and decorative art collections
Dublin Castle, Dublin 2
Conserve rare manuscripts, printed books, and decorative Eastern artefacts
Kilmainham, Dublin 8
Treat and stabilise contemporary and modern artworks in national collection
Dublin 2
Conserve historic manuscripts including the Book of Kells and rare books
Dublin
Independent studio restoring paintings, frames, and decorative objects privately
Nationwide
Maintain and restore artworks and interiors across State heritage properties
Cork City
Care for and restore works within the permanent Irish art collection
Dublin 1
Conserve modern Irish and European paintings including Francis Bacon Studio
Dublin 2
Preserve and conserve architectural drawings, photographs, and paper records
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