Earlier in the year, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation were contacted about conserving a selection of painted plaster figures from a Nativity scene. Potentially dating from the 19th Century, the figures had been residing in local church, St Mary the Virgin, Upwaltham (West Sussex). The students had a deadline of returning the three figures to the Church in early December, ahead of their Christmas service!

West Dean College of Arts and Conservation and West Dean Gardens near Chichester, West Sussex has announced that Stuart Whipps will be the first Garden Artist in Residence.

Students at West Dean College of Arts & Conservation recently had an unusual visitor in the Auditorium – a 1928 Austin 7 car. Car conservator Jules Parker of Julian Parker Ltd of East Sussex came to talk to students studying Furniture, Clocks and Metalwork about his recent project conserving the car that will be celebrating its 100th birthday in eight years time!     

Award-winning West Dean Gardens near Chichester, West Sussex are delighted to announce that their Head Gardener, Tom Brown, who joined West Dean earlier this year (May) has won the Alan Titchmarsh New Talent Award sponsored by Hayloft at the prestigious Garden Media Guild Awards, which were held at the Savoy Hotel, London on Thursday, November 21, 2019.

West Dean College of Arts and Conservation near Chichester, West Sussex is pleased to announce that Hugh Morrison has been appointed as Collections Manager.

It’s not long until Christmas, and we all start to worry what to buy the person who has everything! West Dean College of Arts and Conservation offers a wide variety of short courses (ranging from one to four days) that gives the opportunity to make a one-off item, or by giving a place on a course - a friend or family member could start 2020 by learning a new skill and feeling a sense of accomplishment. There are over 800 courses to choose from every year ranging from millinery to blacksmithing to painting to basket making.

Award-winning West Dean Gardens near Chichester, West Sussex has announced that it will be open all year round, with the exception of December 23-26, 2019 and January 1, 2020. The Gardens, which provide the inspirational setting for West Dean College of Arts and Conservation, welcome visitors and students and include a Restaurant as well as the newly-opened Gardener’s Cottage for teas and coffees until November 30, operating Friday-Sunday, 11am-3pm.

British Library and West Dean College of Arts and Conservation have collaborated to deliver Continued Professional Development for those involved with, or with responsibility for care of libraries, archives and collections, and for conservation students. The first course of the season is on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at British Library.

Professor Paul O’Prey CBE has been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Edward James Foundation which is responsible for West Dean College of Arts and Conservation. At the end of December 2019 Professor O’Prey will replace the Hon Peter Benson LVO MA FCA who is stepping down after seventeen years as a Trustee, ten of them as Chairman.