Conservator intern — Alice Law

Alice is the Bute Intern in Collections Care and Historic Interiors at the National Trust for Scotland

How did you get your job?

I studied MSc Conservation Practice at Cardiff University, and I completed my studies in October 2022. Before that, I completed an MA in History of Art at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge.

After handing in my dissertation, I started applying for conservation and collections care roles with various museums and galleries. The Institute for Conservation (Icon) is one of the main professional bodies for conservators in the UK, and they are a great resource when looking for jobs. You can sign up to weekly email vacancy roundups, apply for a mentor, and they also host an internship programme with heritage organisations across the UK. I saw this post advertised at the National Trust for Scotland and decided that it would be a fantastic opportunity, to build experience and confidence in real situations before going into a full-time job. I applied on the off chance, imagining it would be extremely competitive, and not expecting to get very far. Several days later, I got an invitation to interview, and the rest is history.

What is your working day like?

It's typically a 9-5 day, but the location and the activity depend on current projects. Some days, I'm on site at properties - I've spent days assisting with opening historic houses after closed winter periods and helping to put objects in place, undertaking preventive measures, IPM (Integrated Pest Management) training - or doing practical remedial work on collections in the technician's conservation studio. Other days, I'm working from home writing up reports or doing research.

What do you enjoy about your job?

Having these amazing properties and the Scottish countryside as an office is a definite advantage to the job. I got to work at a property on the Isle of Arran a few weeks ago, so I spent three days on the island. Standing on the ferry as we came into the harbour, the thought that 'this is my job' was incredibly special. It is also a privilege to be able to work with the heritage objects in the Trust, Scotland's largest conservation charity. I really enjoy working with my hands, so the variety of tasks, from practical to analytical, suits me very well.

What are the most challenging parts?

One thing I have been trying to get used to since starting is just how physically and mentally tiring the job can be. Moving and cleaning objects can be quite physically demanding, and you need to be thinking about other factors at the same time - moving routes, loose parts and fragile areas, obstacles and hazards, where you hold an object, whether anything is touching it that shouldn't be, such as a vacuum cord. This is also on top of time pressures, and I'm still trying to master the art of speeding up my technique while also being dextrous and careful with fragile objects.

How relevant is your degree to your job?

I have two degrees that are relevant to this job. My MSc in Conservation Practice is the most relevant, as the knowledge I built during that course helps me with day-to-day tasks like object handling, degradation mechanisms and material properties, as well as the principles of preventive conservation. At Cardiff, I was lucky enough to be part of a programme that encouraged us to think independently about treatments and environmental parameters, and not just to accept something because that is how it has always been done. It has also helped me develop my dexterity and confidence when working with many varied materials; so much so, that I have been trusted to work with objects unsupervised, because I have had this training and have reached a certain level of skill and experience. My first degree in History of Art has also been especially useful, because it helped me develop a broad awareness of how an object is made and constructed, what materials would have been used, and a good eye for detail, which is very important when examining objects.

How has your role developed and what are your career ambitions?

I am with the Trust for twelve months, currently having just completed the first quarter, so I am still very much embracing every opportunity and project that I can. In the coming months, I will not just be shadowing my mentor, but leading on projects of my own at properties, which I'm excited to do. I would like to be able to continue to work as a conservator in the future, either carrying on with an organisation like the National Trust for Scotland, or working for a museum, maybe even setting up my own practice one day. I think it's important to impart and share knowledge and I want to make a positive impact, so my ambition is to contribute to outreach programmes and work towards sustainability in the sector.

What advice can you give to others wanting to get into this job?

There are many routes into the profession of heritage conservation. Don't be put off by conservation being a specialised sector. People who come into the sector have often retrained or moved from a different career path. Universities like Cardiff offer conversion courses, or there are other routes through professional experience, modern apprenticeships, volunteering and other forms of work-based learning. Everyone, regardless of background, can bring something to the sector.

Take every opportunity you can - volunteer, write blog posts, do extra-curricular projects. You never know who you might meet, and you can get experience of so many areas such as documentation and practical skills, etc.

Conservation is a small sector, and a lot of people know each other, so if they know you, that can be a big boost. Social media is great for this - LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter - show what you have been doing, and make connections with people in the sector.

Find out more

• Read all about being a conservator.