I am a Trustee of the Science Museum Group, English Heritage, Pilgrim Trust, Landmark Trust, and the Holst Birthplace Trust. I am also Professor in Practice at Durham University, a member of the Westminster Abbey Fabric Commission and the Gloucester Diocesan Advisory Committee, and President Emeritus of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, following six years as president from 2013 to 2019. I was educated at Oxford University (BA Hons in Chemistry) and the Courtauld Institute of Art, London (postgraduate diploma in Easel Paintings Conservation).

My working life was largely at the National Trust, from 1985 until 2014, where I held a number of roles including Museums and Collections Director, Historic Properties Director and Head Conservator. Prior to that, I worked in the Scientific Department of the National Gallery from 1980 to 1985.

My Fellowship was on the scientific examination of works of art and I spent three months in North America in the summer of 1978, mainly in the Scientific Department of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. This experience was an invaluable start to my career.