Nichecraft — Conservation & Preparation
My work involves care for collections, mainly in natural history, palaeontology and archaeology. My clients are museums and universities as well as private clients. I have advised and participated in large scale collection moves, revisions and exhibition projects. Expertise is all-round and includes small projects as well as longer term projects. Additionally, I offer 3D scanning services, 3D modelling and 3D printing.
What I Do
From conservation and collection management to 3D scanning, modelling and printing — I offer a comprehensive set of skills for natural history institutions, universities and private clients.
Preventive care, environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, collection storage solutions, handling protocols, risk assessment and disaster planning for natural history and archaeological collections.
Intervention treatments, stabilisation of fragile specimens, cleaning, consolidation, repair and restoration of fossil, osteological and archaeological material. Small and large scale projects.
High-resolution 3D scanning of specimens using photogrammetry and structured light scanning. Suitable for research, documentation, exhibition planning and digital archiving.
Digital reconstruction, restoration of incomplete specimens, scientific visualisation, 3D models for research, publication, exhibition and educational purposes.
Production of replicas, educational models, display pieces, and custom commissions. Museum-quality finishes in a range of materials and scales.
Mechanical and chemical preparation of vertebrate and invertebrate fossils. Matrix removal, consolidation, reconstruction and casting for research and display.
Clients & Projects
I have worked with museums and universities across Europe and beyond on collection care, conservation, exhibition projects and 3D documentation.
Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution — collection care, documentation and conservation of the natural history collections.
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden — involved in the Triceratops, Camarasaurus and Mammoth projects. Large-scale fossil preparation, conservation and 3D documentation.
National Museum of Ireland — Natural History Division (the "Dead Zoo"), Dublin — collection management and conservation of the vertebrate collections.
Museu da Lourinhã, Portugal — fossil preparation, conservation and exhibition support for the dinosaur collections.
Sociedade de História Natural, Torres Vedras — collection management, conservation and documentation of palaeontological and archaeological assemblages.
Museu Nacional de História Natural, Angola — advisory and capacity-building work on the national natural history collections.
Professional
The Institute of Conservation — professional accreditation and standards in conservation.
Geocurator Group — representing geoscience curators and collections managers across the UK and Ireland.
Associação de Municípios do Médio Tejo e Pinhal Interior — regional heritage and museum network in Portugal.
Beyond the Lab
Outside of conservation, I am kept busy by volunteering, staying active and exploring creative and cultural pursuits.
Active volunteer with local heritage and community initiatives in Portugal and the UK.
Regular practice for balance, strength and mental clarity — balancing fieldwork and lab work with mindful movement.
Avid baseball follower and occasional player. The diamond as a counterpoint to the lab.
Traditional Mesoamerican sweat lodge ceremony — a practice of reflection, connection and renewal.
Inspired by the work and philosophy of Frans Schouten, pioneer in ecotourism and heritage interpretation.
Collector of vintage biscuit tins — the intersection of industrial design, nostalgia and everyday beauty.
Regular reader of the Bard — the language, the storytelling, the timeless exploration of the human condition.
Writer and reader of poetry — finding precision and beauty in language, much like in conservation work.
Portfolio
A selection of 3D scanning, modelling and printing projects — from museum specimens to custom commissions and educational models.
Life-size replica of a Tyrannosaurus Rex thigh bone, 3D scanned from a museum specimen for educational display.
Detailed recreation of a Triceratops brow horn with authentic surface texture, produced for exhibition use.
Mechanical preparation of a vertebrate fossil — matrix removal and consolidation prior to study.
Structured light scanning of a museum specimen for digital archiving and research documentation.
Large-scale collection relocation project: packing, transport and rehousing of natural history specimens.
Replica of a Stegosaurus dermal plate, 3D printed and hand-finished for an educational collection.
Get in Touch
Whether you need conservation advice, collection management, a 3D scan of a specimen, or a custom replica — I would be happy to hear from you.
Contact Me