Anthea practiced and taught upholstery for over 30 years. After an apprenticeship she set up on her own, continuing to study and gaining her City & Guilds teaching qualifications and a BA Hons in furniture restoration and craftsmanship at High Wycombe. Anthea worked from her studio workshop in Berkshire and undertook a variety of commissions – recovering and restoring anything from stools, chairs and sofas to bedheads and more. She also provided a service in loose covers, caning and rushing.
While researching her dissertation on the conservation of 17th century seat furniture she visited the Textile Conservation Department at the V&A. With QEST support she subsequently did an internship in the department working with Derek Balfour, the Senior Upholstery Conservator. From Derek she learnt the rudiments of upholstery conservation – cleaning, dyeing textiles, supporting and netting fabrics and subsequent storing.
Anthea sadly passed away in 2021.
