Student Contributors 2014
Lori Covington was a graduate diploma student
in the Conservation of Ceramics and Related Materials at West Dean.
In June of 2013, she completed the Foundation Diploma in Art &
Design, after 6 months as a residential student. Lori has a BA in
psychology and a Masters degree in counseling. Before coming to
West Dean, she spent 12 years as a writer and editor.
Rachel Day completed the graduate, postgraduate,
and MA courses. She has been volunteering and doing work experience
in various libraries since she was fifteen and graduated from
Aberystwyth University with a BA in Information and Library Studies
and Museum and Gallery Studies. Prior to starting at West Dean she
had no experience in book or paper conservation.
Sophie Harris is a postgraduate student studying metals
conservation, following the completion of her graduate diploma in
2013. Before coming to West Dean she graduated from a BA (hons) in
contemporary crafts with a specialist in casting and metalwork at
University College Falmouth. She still continues with her interest
in cast copper alloys and has previously worked in a foundry
casting bronze sculpture of artists. She is really interested in
the combination of this with conservation.
Ronnie Kam is currently an Assistant Curator II
(Conservation)-Ceramics in the Hong Kong Conservation Office,
Leisure and Cultural Service Department, HKSAR. With the support of
her employers, Ronnie joined West Dean College as a full time
Postgraduate Diploma Student in Conservation of Ceramics and
Related Materials in September 2013. After graduation from West
Dean in July 2014, Ronnie returned to Hong Kong to continue her
work in the Conservation Office.
Emily Kelmendi completed the graduate and
postgraduate diplomas in the conservation of furniture. Before
coming to West Dean, Emily studied Humanities and gained a DipHE
Humanities. In 2009 she went on to join the antique valuator Philip
Hoare F.T.V.I in his business. During her role as antique valuator
assistant she gained valuable knowledge dealing with a wide range
of antiques. To combine her dexterity skills with her interest and
knowledge of furniture history brought her to study furniture
conservation at West Dean.
Sally Place has worked as a journalist,
specialising in editing in-house magazines for companies such as
the London Stock Exchange, Glaxo and Bunzl for much of her working
life. After starting a family, she worked as a freelance
journalist/PR consultant for Waitrose. Somewhere along the line,
she became interested in stained and fused glass, selling items
online and at craft shows. This interest in working with and
creating beautiful objects led her to apply to do the Graduate
Diploma on the West Dean Ceramic and Related Objects Conservation
programme.
Benjamin Pointer completed the graduate and
postgraduate diplomas in book conservation. Benjamin graduated from
Cardiff University with a BA in Religious and Theological Studies.
Over the course of his Graduate Diploma, Benjamin developed an
interest in historical book structures.
Franciszek de Sage finished the graduate diploma
on the Conservation of Furniture and Related Objects at West Dean.
Prior to beginning his studies in conservation, Franciszek worked
for a year in a restoration workshop in Krakow, Poland.