Our first Conservation Workshop
The Trust recently hosted a day-long conservation workshop at The Steading, opening up an area of work that is not usually visible to the public.
The workshop invited participants aged 18 and over to spend time learning how wooden sculptures are cared for, working directly with pieces from the collection and gaining a practical understanding of what conservation involves.
Led by the Trust, the day focused on the careful handling, assessment and treatment of wooden works. This included addressing pieces affected by woodworm, offering insight into both the vulnerabilities of the material and the ongoing care required to preserve it. Rather than observing from a distance, participants were able to engage closely with the process, building confidence and awareness through doing.
For many, the workshop also offered a first encounter with works that had not been publicly accessible for over fifteen years. A number of sculptures, fragments and smaller pieces were brought out from storage and shared as part of the session, allowing them to be experienced again within the context of the Steading. Seeing these works in this way brought a different understanding, not only of the objects themselves, but of the wider collection and the conditions needed to care for it.
The day was structured to allow time for both practical work and conversation. A shared lunch created space for participants to reflect, ask questions and exchange perspectives, reinforcing the sense that the care of the collection can be something understood collectively, rather than remaining the domain of specialists alone.
STV
STV visited The Steading during the workshop, with journalist Isla Todd spending time with participants as they worked directly on pieces from the collection. The feature follows the day at a close distance, moving between the practical work and the conversations taking place around it.
Participants are shown learning how to handle and care for wooden sculptures, including treating works affected by woodworm. Much of this work is usually carried out by specialists and happens quietly, so opening it up in this way offered a different kind of access, one based on doing and understanding rather than simply viewing.
The Trust’s Director and Treasurer both appear in the piece, speaking about the collection and the responsibility of caring for it over time. Their contributions sit alongside the activity itself, helping to explain why it felt important to share this knowledge more openly and to allow people to spend time with the work in this way.
Several of the sculptures being worked on had not been accessible for many years. Seeing them brought out, handled and discussed within the Steading adds another layer to how the collection can be experienced, not only as finished pieces, but as objects that require ongoing care.
The feature offers a simple record of the day, capturing both the work itself and the atmosphere within the building, and giving a wider sense of how conservation, learning and use continue to sit alongside one another at The Steading.
David Lightly - WoodNeuk
David Lightly, founder of WoodNeuk, works closely with the Trust in supporting the care of the collection and the ongoing life of The Steading. As a former apprentice of Tim Stead, his relationship to the work is both practical and personal, shaped through direct experience of the workshop and the ways of making that continue to define the space.
David is an artisan furniture maker, working primarily with Scottish hardwoods, and brings a depth of material knowledge that sits comfortably within the context of The Steading. His approach reflects a continuity of practice, where attention to process, repair and long-term use remain central.
Through his work with the Trust, David supports volunteers and participants in learning how to care for wooden objects, sharing techniques and approaches that are often not widely accessible. This includes guidance on conservation, maintenance and making, helping to build confidence and understanding through hands-on experience.
His involvement forms part of a wider effort to ensure that Tim Stead’s legacy is not only preserved, but actively carried forward. By working alongside others in the space, David contributes to a way of learning that is rooted in doing, where knowledge is shared and developed over time.
Around the corner
Following the success of this workshop, we will be running further conservation days across spring and summer 2026.
There are still many sculptures within the collection that have yet to be revisited, and much ongoing care required to ensure they remain in good condition. These sessions will continue to open up that work, offering time to learn, take part and spend close time with the material.
We welcome those who are interested in joining us, whether to develop practical skills, support the care of the collection, or simply to spend time exploring this aspect of The Steading.
If you would like to take part, please contact David Peace at David@timsteadtrust.org