The Repair Shop Takes to the Road Again
The latest episode of BBC’s The Repair Shop on the Road brought a fresh team of experts to our screens on Wednesday night. This time, viewers followed Dominic Chinea and the newest addition to the expert team, Richard Fraser, as they embarked on a journey to restore treasured items in Nairn, Scotland.
Meeting at the train station, Dom and Rich set off in search of a museum for a “very interesting” project. Rich, a specialist heritage stone mason and lime plasterer, revealed that he was a local to the area, having been born in Inverness. As they arrived at the museum, curator Annie MacDonald explained the task at hand: saving two precious artworks created by Polish soldiers stationed there during World War II.
Saving Artworks with Expertise and Confidence
Annie expressed her desire to display the paintings to the public, prompting Rich to confidently assert that they could tackle the challenge. Despite Dom’s uneasiness, Rich embarked on the delicate process of extracting and restoring the plastered paintings. His expertise shone through as he recognized the damage and prepared a solution to stabilize the plaster.
Challenges and Triumphs in Restoration
As Rich faced difficulties with the more extensive image of vibrant blue flowers, his concerns grew. Dom’s hands-on approach proved crucial in fortifying the artwork with a permanent backboard to prevent warping. The transformation of the artworks left Annie astounded, exclaiming, “It’s absolutely amazing! I can’t believe it.” The community rejoiced as the restored paintings were elegantly framed and prepared for exhibition at the museum.
Catch The Repair Shop on the Road on BBC iPlayer to witness the team’s remarkable restoration journeys.
