Coburn Fine Art Conservation Pty Ltd
Fine Art Conservation and Sculpture

Professional art restoration in NSW

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We can mend your 
broken art

We can mend your broken art

About us

Coburn fine Art Conservation Pty Ltd was started by Stephen Paul Coburn. Stephen began his training in art conservation in 1980 at the Materials Conservation Course, Canberra College of Advanced Education. His special interest was paintings.

In 1987, he became the director of the Trades Union Banners Restoration Project for the Trades Union Association of New South Wales. He held the position 
until 1990.

In 1990, he moved to St. Louis Missouri in the United States of America and began a private conservation company. Fortunately, there was considerable work and one major client, the Anheuser Busch Company. This company allowed him to work on paintings such as ‘Les Emigrant’ by Edvard Farazyn and ‘Custer’s Last Fight’ by Otto Becker, as well as many other paintings from the General Ulysses S. Grant Collection.

In late 1991, Stephen successfully applied for the position of Director of Conservation for the NSW Regional Galleries Association and was based at the Art Gallery of NSW until 1999.
Preserving masterpieces for over 30 years
View Our Work

 Art conservation and restoration

Coburn Fine Art does conservation and restoration on paintings, sculpture, works on paper and other fine art pieces. Our mission is to restore and preserve objects of cultural significance. We can't make old things look new, although we can make old things look loved and cared for and we can show you how to keep them in 
that condition.

My personal art collection is of great importance to me, and I know from experience how upsetting even the smallest mark or damage can be. It becomes impossible to see the art work without seeing the damage. I have worked for over 30 years in the conservation and restoration of fine art. I have repaired works by Peter Paul Rubens, Touluse Lautrec, Picasso, Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts, Arthur Boyd and Norman Lindsay to name a few, as well as countless works by artists collected for personal reasons. There is not much in the way of damage that I have not seen or had to repair to museum standard.

I am also aware that the best way to prevent the heart break of damaging a cherished art work is to prevent it from becoming damaged in the first place. Most art works that are damaged are usually damaged when they are moved or transported. Preventative conservation techniques can help to minimize the damage caused by heavy handed removalists, poor storage and the environment — not to mention household hazards such as animals, children and kitchen patina. Call me or come to my studio at Mosman for advice about prevention before you have to call me about the cure.
Museum quality restorations
Get A Free Quote

Get In Touch 

Coburn Fine Art Conservation Pty Ltd

Address: Site 18 1100a Middle Head Rd, Mosman, NSW 2088

Phone: 02 9960 5557  

Stephen Coburn - Sculptor

Stephen Coburn is already well known for his contemporary sculpture. He has exhibited in many group exhibitions and has two solo exhibitions to date.

His work is inspired by his environment, the great southern island continent Australia and its history. The present and future of his home are what intrigues him the most. At the moment, he works mostly in metal although he has recently included other natural materials in his sculptures such as stone and wood. His subjects are derived from nature and can go from realism to complete abstract form or symbolism. There is an environmental theme that connects all his sculptures together. He is always searching for new ways to express his belief.

If you visit the studio at Mosman you will be at first captivated by the beauty of the location, Headland Park, overlooking the gateway to Sydney Harbour from the city to Manly.

You will then be drawn into Stephen's personal world, you will see all the maquettes and small sculptures and drawings that were the studies for the full size works. You will also be able to witness first-hand the sculptures that he is in the process of building.

Coburn was born in Sydney in 1955 and grew up on the Northern Beaches. He began building models as a child. At the age of 10, he won first prize at the 1966 Brookvale Easter Show for a wooden model of the ship ‘HMAS Napal’, upon which his father John served 
during WWII. 

He went on to study sculpture and painting at the National Art School, Sydney. As a teenager, Stephen developed a keen interest in music. While at art school, he became the original bass player for the renowned band ‘Mental As Anything’.
Stephen continued his studies in Canberra in the Conservation of Cultural Materials, and has been working as a fine art conservator 
since 1980.

During that time he continued his art practice, exhibiting in many solo and group exhibitions of painting and sculpture in Australia, America and Hong Kong. He also continued to play music and perform at Sydney venues.
In the year 2000, he began to concentrate on sculpture, and was exhibited in Sculpture by the Sea Bondi in 2002, 2007 and 2009, as well as in many more group sculpture exhibitions.

In 2005 he exhibited his sculptures in a joint solo exhibition at the Depot Gallery, Danks Street Waterloo, along with artist Gary Gregg. His theme was the Hawkesbury River and was called the ‘Deerubbin Series’.

In 2008, he began work on a project called Utes in the Paddock at Ootha NSW completing one sculpture made from an EJ Holden ute ‘Ute-opia’. This led to a series of sculptures of animals made from cars called ‘Revenge of the Roadkill’.
In 2009, he returned to Ootha. With fellow musician-artist Jim Moginie, they built the sculpture ‘Utezilla’ from the body of an FE Holden ute. They also produced a CD ‘Utes in the Paddock’, songs about utes.

 
Stephen won the Northbridge Art Prize for sculpture in 2009.
He achieved the Highly Commended award at the Sawmillers sculpture prize North Sydney in 2010, and the Most Extraordinary Sculpture award at The Spirit of the Land sculpture prize Lockhart NSW in 2011. He also won the McWilliams sculpture prize 
in 2011.

In 2012 Stephen travelled to France and Spain, returning with inspiration and enthusiasm to prepare his second solo exhibition ‘Notes from the Opus’ which was held at the Milk Factory Gallery Bowral on November 3rd 2012.

Coburn describes his style as ‘a balance between human endeavour and nature, a distilling of organic shapes to produce an almost rune-like vocabulary of form and meaning’.

About us

Coburn fine Art Conservation Pty Ltd was started by Stephen Paul Coburn. Stephen began his training in art conservation in 1980 at the Materials Conservation Course, Canberra College of Advanced Education. His special interest was paintings.

In 1987, he became the director of the Trades Union Banners Restoration Project for the Trades Union Association of New South Wales. He held the position 
until 1990.

In 1990, he moved to St. Louis Missouri in the United States of America and began a private conservation company. Fortunately, there was considerable work and one major client, the Anheuser Busch Company. This company allowed him to work on paintings such as ‘Les Emigrant’ by Edvard Farazyn and ‘Custer’s Last Fight’ by Otto Becker, as well as many other paintings from the General Ulysses S. Grant Collection.

In late 1991, Stephen successfully applied for the position of Director of Conservation for the NSW Regional Galleries Association and was based at the Art Gallery of NSW until 1999.
Coburn fine Art Conservation Pty Ltd was started by Stephen Paul Coburn. Stephen began his training in art conservation in 1980 at the Materials Conservation Course, Canberra College of Advanced Education. His special interest was paintings.

In 1987, he became the director of the Trades Union Banners Restoration Project for the Trades Union Association of New South Wales. He held the position until 1990.

In 1990, he moved to St. Louis Missouri in the United States of America and began a private conservation company. Fortunately, there was considerable work and one major client, the Anheuser Busch Company. This company allowed him to work on paintings such as ‘Les Emigrant’ by Edvard Farazyn and ‘Custer’s Last Fight’ by Otto Becker, as well as many other paintings from the General Ulysses S. Grant Collection.

In late 1991, Stephen successfully applied for the position of Director of Conservation for the NSW Regional Galleries Association and was based at the Art Gallery of NSW until 1999.

Preserving masterpieces for over 30 years

View Our Work

 Art conservation and restoration

Coburn Fine Art does conservation and restoration on paintings, sculpture, works on paper and other fine art pieces. Our mission is to restore and preserve objects of cultural significance. We can't make old things look new, although we can make old things look loved and cared for and we can show you how to keep them 
in that condition.

My personal art collection is of great importance to me, and I know from experience how upsetting even the smallest mark or damage can be. It becomes impossible to see the art work without seeing the damage. I have worked for over 30 years in the conservation and restoration of fine art. I have repaired works by Peter Paul Rubens, Touluse Lautrec, Picasso, Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts, Arthur Boyd and Norman Lindsay to name a few, as well as countless works by artists collected for personal reasons. There is not much in the way of damage that I have not seen or had to repair to museum standard.

I am also aware that the best way to prevent the heart break of damaging a cherished art work is to prevent it from becoming damaged in the first place. Most art works that are damaged are usually damaged when they are moved or transported. Preventative conservation techniques can help to minimize the damage caused by heavy handed removalists, poor storage and the environment — not to mention household hazards such as animals, children and kitchen patina. Call me or come to my studio at Mosman for advice about prevention before you have to call me about the cure.
Coburn Fine Art does conservation and restoration on paintings, sculpture, works on paper and other fine art pieces. Our mission is to restore and preserve objects of cultural significance. We can't make old things look new, although we can make old things look loved and cared for and we can show you how to keep them in that condition.

My personal art collection is of great importance to me, and I know from experience how upsetting even the smallest mark or damage can be. It becomes impossible to see the art work without seeing the damage. I have worked for over 30 years in the conservation and restoration of fine art. I have repaired works by Peter Paul Rubens, Touluse Lautrec, Picasso, Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts, Arthur Boyd and Norman Lindsay to name a few, as well as countless works by artists collected for personal reasons. There is not much in the way of damage that I have not seen or had to repair to museum standard.

I am also aware that the best way to prevent the heart break of damaging a cherished art work is to prevent it from becoming damaged in the first place. Most art works that are damaged are usually damaged when they are moved or transported. Preventative conservation techniques can help to minimize the damage caused by heavy handed removalists, poor storage and the environment — not to mention household hazards such as animals, children and kitchen patina. Call me or come to my studio at Mosman for advice about prevention before you have to call me about the cure.

Museum quality restorations

Get A Free Quote

Get In Touch 

Coburn Fine Art Conservation Pty Ltd

Address: Site 18 1100a Middle Head Rd, Mosman, NSW 2088

Phone: 02 9960 5557  

Preserving masterpieces for over 30 years

Stephen Coburn 
-Sculptor-

Stephen Coburn is already well known for his contemporary sculpture. He has exhibited in many group exhibitions and has two solo exhibitions to date.

His work is inspired by his environment, the great southern island continent Australia and its history. The present and future of his home are what intrigues him the most. At the moment, he works mostly in metal although he has recently included other natural materials in his sculptures such as stone and wood. His subjects are derived from nature and can go from realism to complete abstract form or symbolism. There is an environmental theme that connects all his sculptures together. He is always searching for new ways to express his belief.

If you visit the studio at Mosman you will be at first captivated by the beauty of the location, Headland Park, overlooking the gateway to Sydney Harbour from the city 
to Manly.

You will then be drawn into Stephen's personal world, you will see all the maquettes and small sculptures and drawings that were the studies for the full size works. You will also be able to witness first-hand the sculptures that he is in the process 
of building.

Coburn was born in Sydney in 1955 and grew up on the Northern Beaches. He began building models as a child. At the age of 10, he won first prize at the 1966 Brookvale Easter Show for a wooden model of the ship ‘HMAS Napal’, upon which his father John served during WWII. 

He went on to study sculpture and painting at the National Art School, Sydney. As a teenager, Stephen developed a keen interest in music. While at art school, he became the original bass player for the renowned band ‘Mental As Anything’.
Stephen continued his studies in Canberra in the Conservation of Cultural Materials, and has been working as a fine art conservator 
since 1980.

During that time he continued his art practice, exhibiting in many solo and group exhibitions of painting and sculpture in Australia, America and Hong Kong. He also continued to play music and perform at Sydney venues.
In the year 2000, he began to concentrate on sculpture, and was exhibited in Sculpture by the Sea Bondi in 2002, 2007 and 2009, as well as in many more group 
sculpture exhibitions.

In 2005 he exhibited his sculptures in a joint solo exhibition at the Depot Gallery, Danks Street Waterloo, along with artist Gary Gregg. His theme was the Hawkesbury River and was called the ‘Deerubbin Series’.

In 2008, he began work on a project called Utes in the Paddock at Ootha NSW completing one sculpture made from an EJ Holden ute ‘Ute-opia’. This led to a series of sculptures of animals made from cars called 
‘Revenge of the Roadkill’.
In 2009, he returned to Ootha. With fellow musician-artist Jim Moginie, they built the sculpture ‘Utezilla’ from the body of an FE Holden ute. They also produced a CD ‘Utes in the Paddock’, songs about utes.

 
Stephen won the Northbridge Art Prize for sculpture in 2009.
He achieved the Highly Commended award at the Sawmillers sculpture prize North Sydney in 2010, and the Most Extraordinary Sculpture award at The Spirit of the Land sculpture prize Lockhart NSW in 2011. He also won the McWilliams sculpture prize 
in 2011.

In 2012 Stephen travelled to France and Spain, returning with inspiration and enthusiasm to prepare his second solo exhibition ‘Notes from the Opus’ which was held at the Milk Factory Gallery Bowral on 
November 3rd 2012.

Coburn describes his style as ‘a balance between human endeavour and nature, a distilling of organic shapes to produce an almost rune-like vocabulary of form and meaning’.
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