Theo Sturge – Leather Conservator

Theo Sturge ACR FIIC is a Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation (FIIC), and an Accredited Member of the Institute of Conservation (ACR). He is an Assistant Coordinator for the ICOM-CC Leather and Related Materials Working Group.  He has over 50 years’ experience of conservation and restoration in both the public and private sector.

Theo has specialised in leather conservation for over 25 years and is probably the most experienced leather conservator in the UK. He works on gilt leather, upholstery, and the myriad of other items made from leather. He established his own business, specialising in leather conservation, the Sturge Conservation Studio, in 2000. His biggest client is the National Trust. He has been running his Practical Leather Conservation Course for over 20 years for groups of individuals and regularly teaches on university conservation courses.

He trained in conservation at the Institute of Archaeology, London University, in the early 1970’s. On leaving college he went to Leicester Museum where he was Assistant Keeper, Antiquities Conservation for 16 years followed by 6 years as Senior Keeper, Conservation and Restoration at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry. Immediately prior to setting up the Sturge Conservation Studio he was Senior Conservator at the Leather Conservation Centre where he evolved specialised methods for work on items as diverse as car seats and painted gilt leather wall hangings and screens.