Key Staff

Kevin Smith, ACR – Managing Director

Kevin has worked for the company since 1983, gaining his ICON (Institute of Conservation) accredited status in 1999. Kevin specialises in preventive conservation and micro-climate control and currently manages the exhibition team. He has worked on several high profile museum and gallery openings managing the production of bespoke mounts for a variety of objects and the installation of objects into galleries. Major exhibition projects include the Museum of Islamic Art, the Imperial War Museum and the travelling Tutankhamun Exhibition. In addition Kevin has a wealth of experience with contemporary art, in particular the maintenance of electric art installations.

Valerie Kaufmann, Dip.AD, ACR– Senior Restorer and Director

Valerie began her career working for the Liverpool City Museum and later at the Victoria and Albert Museum. As an accredited conservator by ICON (Institute of Conservation) in 2000 she became an ICON board member from 2006-2007. Valerie has worked for Plowden and Smith since 1977 managing a variety of projects such as the restoration of organ cases and pipes at Eton College Chapel and Rochester Cathedral. Valerie enjoys the challenges presented to the private conservation workshop and specialises in the conservation of decorative arts, including wax portraits and models.

Sarah Giles – Client Liaison Manager and Associate Director

Sarah has a BA(hons) in the History of Art and English and a Post Graduate Diploma in Fine Art Valuation. Sarah has been with the company for over twelve years and has gained valuable experience and a wide general knowledge about the theories of restoration and conservation with the help of the team of conservators and their extensive expertise.

Tom Palmer – Head of Furniture and Project Manager and Associate Director

Tom joined the company in 1995 with a diploma in furniture conservation from West Dean College, Chichester. Tom has excellent practical problem solving abilities and manages many large company projects, which vary from  prestigious interiors such as The Draper’s Hall and St George’s Church Bloomsbury.

Gabriella Smith, MRICS – Head of Projects & Conservation

Gabriella is a Chartered Surveyor and also has a BSc (Hons) in Conservation with over 14 years experience in the conservation, building and architectural field. Gabriella first joined Plowden & Smith in 1997 assisting in the management of a number of larger scale projects such as the Lloyd’s Shipping Registry Building, the Daily Express Building & the Royal Opera House. She recently re-joined the company after working for English Heritage as a Project Manager, as well as having gained experience at Historic Royal Palaces and MRDA & Martin Ashley Architects where conservation projects included Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, Ipswich Town Hall and a number of ecclesiastical buildings. Gabriella has also lectured in the UK and abroad on managing commercial activities within a historic setting.