Nancy Wilden
Doha,Qatar
Summary
Fine Art Conservation Manager and qualified conservator with over 15 years’ experience, including 5 years leading complex, high-pressure projects in the Middle East.
Known for bringing together the right mix of international specialists and creating teams that not only deliver technically, but work well together in practice -something considered a key part of successful project outcomes.
Combines strong conservation expertise with a calm, perceptive approach to people and team dynamics. Quick to recognise where challenges may arise - whether logistical or interpersonal - and address them early, before they impact delivery.
Values clear communication, mutual respect, and setting teams up with the structure and clarity they need to perform confidently.
Builds trusted, long-term relationships with clients and colleagues through reliability, sound judgement, and a consistently practical, solutions-focused approach in complex and often demanding environments.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Fine Arts Conservation Manager
GWC (Fine Arts Department)
Doha, Qatar
2021.10 - Current
- Plan and deliver complex conservation projects in Qatar and across the Middle East, including coordinating international teams for exhibition installations and deinstallations.
- Source, recruit, and manage specialist conservators and technicians globally, aligning expertise to project requirements and building cohesive, high-performing teams.
- Carry out conservation treatments, condition reporting, and treatment proposals for artworks in Qatar, UAE and KSA.
- Build and maintain strong client relationships, managing expectations and delivering practical, solution-focused outcomes.
- Navigate complex logistical and regulatory challenges in Qatar, proactively resolving issues to keep projects on track.
- Develop clear project structures, including roles, communication frameworks, and working protocols to ensure smooth delivery.
- Lead teams on-site, maintaining high conservation standards while acting as the primary liaison between clients and project teams.
- Prepare detailed quotations, estimates, and multi-year Conservation tender submissions.
- Negotiate contractor rates and approve invoices.
- Coordinate equipment and resources across multiple concurrent projects.
- Mentor junior colleagues and emerging conservators, supporting professional development.
- Lead performance reviews and identify areas for improvement.
Freelance Objects/Decorative Arts Conservator
Various companies
London, UK, Qatar,
2019.11 - 2021.10
- Carried out conservation treatment on Historic furniture (Gilded and painted) at National Trust (Knole House)
- GWC Fine Arts: Month long Conservation treatment of four Richard Serra artworks 'East West - West East' in Zekreet desert, involving sandblasting Corten steel surfaces and carrying out controlled oxidation of surfaces.
- GWC Fine Arts: Carried out conservation survey and treatment proposals of 114 artworks 'ALFA' by Jean-Michel Othoniel.
- GWC Fine Arts: Completed condition reports for 70 artworks at Qatar Foundation.
- Carried out reports and treatment on artworks for prominent London auction houses, galleries and individual collectors.
- Participated actively in professional conservator groups staying up-to-date on emerging trends and technologies in the field.
Objects/Decorative Arts Conservator
Plowden & Smith
London, UK
2017.04 - 2019.11
- Delivered interventive conservation treatments across wide range of materials including decorative arts, contemporary art, sculpture, lacquer, stone, ceramics, and gilded surfaces.
- Produced condition reports, treatment proposals, and final documentation.
- Contributed to large-scale international museum projects (100+ objects).
- Assisted with project coordination and workflow organisation.
- Worked on high-profile conservation projects and installations.
- Followed strict ethical guidelines whilst dealing with sensitive cultural artefacts.
Frames/Furniture/Objects Conservator
Arlington Conservation
London
2014.10 - 2017.04
- Carried out conservation assessment and treatment on furniture, frames, and decorative objects for museums, historic houses, and private collectors.
- Worked on fine Eighteenth Century furniture and frames and on contemporary mid-century modern collectors' items by Charlotte Perriand, Alvar Aalto and Gio Ponti.
- Completed restoration of eight-panel Coromandel lacquer screen for Masterpiece London Art Fair.
- Delivered work for major UK institutions including Chatsworth House and Sir John Soane’s Museum, London.
Objects/Decorative Arts Conservator
Plowden & Smith
London
2011.07 - 2014.10
- Provided conservation treatments across multiple departments including ceramics, textiles, and stone.
- Contributed to heritage projects including work within Palace of Westminster
- Developed broad material expertise across historic and contemporary objects
Education
Bachelor of Science (Hons) - Conservation and Restoration
London Metropolitan University
London 2008.09 - 2011.06
Project Management -
CoE
Online 2025.12 - 2026.06
Skills
- Conservation project management
- Team leadership and development
- Preventive and interventive strategies
- Regional project coordination
- Condition reporting and treatment
- Client engagement and liaison
- Operational planning
- Inspiring motivation
- Microsoft office suite proficiency
- Effective delegating
- Staff recruitment
- Mentoring and coaching
Websites
List of projects/clients/highlights
Project highlights:
- Art Basel Qatar: Managed team of 10 conservators for install/deinstall of 500 artworks, and providing conservation services for duration: M7/Doha Design District (2026).
- Design Doha Biennale: Managed team of 6 conservators for install/deinstall, and maintenance during exhibition period: M7 (2024).
- Richard Serra – ‘East West/West East’ – Zekreet Desert. (2021/2022). Carried out sandblasting of surfaces and controlled oxidation of surfaces.
- Damien Hirst ‘Miraculous Journey’: 3-year contract carrying out cleaning, maintenance and treatment on 14 large bronze artworks.
- World Cup 2022: Preparation, cleaning and maintenance of all Public Artworks in Qatar (2022) and reports/treatment following event.
- Christian Dior – ‘Designer of Dreams’: M7 Gallery (2021/2022): Reports for install/deinstall. Maintenance of 150 haute couture dresses during exhibition period.
- Valentino – ‘Forever Valentino’: Reports for install/deinstall. Maintenance of 200 haute couture dresses during exhibition period. M7 Gallery (2022/2023).
- Jeff Koons: Inflatable Dugong – Carried out cleaning and maintenance over 18-month period (2022-2024).
- Olafur Eliasson: The Curious Desert - Al Khor desert – Carried out condition reports for install/deinstall. Artwork maintenance over exhibition period (2023).
- Multi-phase contract carrying out conservation/restoration treatment on a large museum collection of vintage vehicles.
Exhibitions (Install/deinstall/maintenance for exhibition duration):
- Arab Design Now - ‘Weaving Poems’ - M7 (2024)
- I.M.Pei: Life is Architecture: 2025/2026.
- Jeff koons: ‘Lost in America’ Al Riwaq (2021)
- Yayoi Kusama – ‘My Soul Blooms Forever’: MIA Park/Al Riwaq (2022)
- Pipilotti Rist ‘Electric Idyll’: Fire Station Gallery (2024)
- Virgil Abloh: ‘Figures of Speech’ Fire Station Gallery (2021)
- Masterpieces of Furniture Design’ – M7 (2023)
- Fashion Trust Arabia – ‘Threads of Impact’: M7 (2025)
- ‘Resolutions’: MATHAF (2026)
- Amazigh Hair Couture’ – M7 (2025)
- ICONE – Voice of Design Made in Italy (2023)
- Labour of Love: Embroidering Palestinian History – Katara Gallery 2022
- Latino Americano – National Museum of Qatar – (2025)
- Manzar: Art and Architecture from Pakistan 1940s to Today – (2024)
- Artists in Residence (AiR) 9: ‘Portals in Flux’ Fire Station Gallery – (2025)
- Artists in Residence (AiR) 8: ‘A House Overlooking the World’ Fire Station Gallery – 2024
- Artists in Residence (AiR) 6 & 7: ‘The Future of the past’ – Fire Station Gallery – 2023
- Cities Under Quarantine: The Mailbox Project: MATHAF (2023)
- Beirut and the Golden Sixties: A Manifest of Fragility: MATHAF (2023)
Public Artworks: Cleaned, maintained, treated since 2021
- Richard Serra: ‘7’
- Richard Serra: ‘East West/West East’
- Jeff Koons: ‘Dugong’ (Inflatable)
- Damien Hirst: ‘The Miraculous Journey’
- Olafur Elliasson: ‘Shadows Travelling on the Sea of The Day’
- Sarah Lucas: ‘Perceval’
- Ugo Rondinone: ‘Doha Mountains’
- Marc Quinn: ‘Arctic Nurseries of El Dorado’
- Katharina Fritsch – ‘Blue Cockerel’
- Giuseppe Penone – ‘Idee Di Pietra’
- Takashi Murakami :‘Ego’ (inflatable)
- KAWS: ‘The Promise’
- KAWS: ‘Small Lie’
- Urs Fischer: ‘Lamp Bear’
- Francois Xavier Lalanne: ‘Les Moutons’
- Jean-Michel Othoniel: ‘ALFA’ (NMoQ)
- Jean-Michel Othoniel: ‘COSMOS’ (Hamad International Airport).)
- Najla El Zein: ‘Us, Her Him’
- Isa Genzken: ‘Rose III’/’Two Orchids’
- Tom Claassen: 8 Oryxes
- Shezad Dawood: Doha Modern Playground.
- Subodh Gupta: ‘Spooning’
- Subodh Gupta: ‘Gandhi’s Three Monkeys’
- Cai Guo Quiang: ‘Homecoming’
- Saloua Raouda Choucair: ‘’Bench’
- Tom Otterness: ‘Other Worlds’
- Liam Gillick: ‘Folded, Extracted, Personified’
- Ahmed Al Bahrani: ‘The Challenge’
- Dia Al Azzawi: ‘Enchanted East’
- Cesar Baldaccini: Le Pouce
Timeline
Project Management -
CoE
2025.12 - 2026.06
Fine Arts Conservation Manager
GWC (Fine Arts Department)
2021.10 - Current
Freelance Objects/Decorative Arts Conservator
Various companies
2019.11 - 2021.10
Objects/Decorative Arts Conservator
Plowden & Smith
2017.04 - 2019.11
Frames/Furniture/Objects Conservator
Arlington Conservation
2014.10 - 2017.04
Objects/Decorative Arts Conservator
Plowden & Smith
2011.07 - 2014.10
Bachelor of Science (Hons) - Conservation and Restoration
London Metropolitan University
2008.09 - 2011.06