Pippa Balch

Pippa Balch is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Conservation at The Courtauld Institute of Art. Her expertise focuses on the practical conservation of easel paintings, technical examination, and replica-making. She coordinates the Painting Pairs programme with colleagues and oversees student training in conservation theory and practice.

Education:

• BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, Bristol University (1990)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Conservation (Easel Paintings), Hamilton Kerr Institute, Cambridge (1996)

Research Interests: Balch specializes in panel painting conservation, materials analysis, and historical restoration techniques. Her current project involves conserving Gerino da Pistoia’s 1510 Virgin and Child with Saints for The Courtauld Gallery. She emphasizes hands-on replica-making to understand artists’ methods.

Professional Activities:

• Coordinator of the Painting Pairs interdisciplinary research programme
• Supervises student conservation projects and painting sourcing
• Former private practice conservator (1997–2007)

Awards: Clothworkers’ Foundation Conservation Fellowship (2011–2013) for studying the Courtauld’s Gerino da Pistoia panel painting.

Teaching: Leads modules on conservation principles, panel painting techniques, and ethical restoration practices for MA students. Integrates technical analysis with art historical context in training.