RESTORATION and conservation of a portrait of poet Charles Causley is due to start this month — and people are welcome to see some of the work being carried out.

Launceston Town Councillors in January considered the recommendations of a conservator who reported on the condition of all the council’s paintings.

It was considered work should take place on the portrait of the Launceston poet as a priority. It was painted by Peter Douglas Edwards in 2002.

After it has been conserved, museum grade glass will be used to protect the portrait. This means it will not be able to be framed in the conventional way, due to the weight of the glass and size of the painting.

More Creative Solutions in Newport has been asked to design a cabinet with a glass door, which would hang on the wall, with the painting on the wall behind it

Work will take place during the week of August 17 by Sarah Cove, one of Britain’s foremost technical art historians, who carried out the condition survey of the council’s paintings last November.

She will work in a team with three others. On Wednesday, August 19 from 11am to noon and Thursday, August 20 from 2pm to 3.30pm, members of the public can visit the Guildhall, watch the conservation work in progress and talk to Ms Cove about her work, free of charge.

Town clerk Rita Skinner said the council was undertaking a programme of conservation of the paintings in its care over the next few years.

She added: “We are doing the work on the Causley portrait first as it is most in need and the other portraits will follow in order of need. Although most are not of any great financial value they are of great historic value to the town, and the council has a duty to look after them.”

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week’s edition of the Post.