The Traditional Paint Forum (TPF)

is interested in the influences, personalities and circumstances that gave rise to particular decorative schemes in an architectural context.
But, very importantly, we also believe the only way informed judgements can be made about the significance and future of existing or lost schemes is to also understand what materials were used to create them and how they were executed. The ‘why’ is not the whole story …’how’ can be just as vital!

The holistic nature of the organisation is perhaps best reflected in its
Annual Workshop/Conference where the papers given on the architectural and historical significance of particular decorative schemes are given greater depth by contributions on: paint-analysis; conservation techniques; cleaning and redecoration. This is usually supplemented by practical demonstrations of the original techniques and materials used and possible new alternative paint materials that might be worth considering.

The Annual Conference is reinforced by an annual journal containing articles on a disparate number of topics, but often including papers delivered at the conference, and a newsletter, ‘Smudge‘.

The TPF have a lso organised some very successful Technical Days ( ‘Paint Day ‘) which give an introductory overview to traditional paint technology and, through popular demand, have been repeated on a number of occasions in different United Kingdom locations.