Meet the Book Professional
Welcome to my website and thank you for looking at my courses.
I am a professionally trained handcraft bookbinder, gold finisher and paper conservator, having been expertly taught by internationally renowned bookbinders Maureen Duke, Lester Capon and gold finisher John Mitchell, as well as studying paper conservation under Bob Shrigley. More recently updating my knowledge on courses with Stuart Brockman, Mark Cockram, and Bridget Warrington who is an ICON (Institute of Conservators) accredited conservator.
Having arranged work placements during my professional training in both The Royal Library and Royal Archives at Windsor Castle, I worked on the refurbishment of books and paper conservation of documents held in The Royal Collection. As part of a contract for The British Library, I then worked in Bookends Bindery based in London, carrying out paper conservation on numerous British Library documents.
Following a career as an Officer in the Royal Air Force, I returned to the craft and now run a fully equipped bindery in Lincolnshire. I have been delighted to be able to continue the tradition of handcrafted bookbinding, carrying out the repair and conservation of books and documents for future generations to enjoy.
I specialise in using traditional skills handed down over the years from bookbinders, combined with modern conservation techniques and materials to restore books and documents for collectors, stately homes and museums.
I hold professional memberships with ICON and the ARA (Archives and Records Association), and I am also a member of Designer Bookbinders and The Society of Bookbinders.
My love for helping people and organisations repair and conserve their books has been the creative force behind me launching 'The Book Rescuer's Club', where through my workshops I can help you learn how to rescue your damaged much treasured books to enjoy and keep in your family for future generations.
I look forward to meeting you on one of my workshops soon. Have a look on my Course Bookings page to find workshops available and more information about them.
Best wishes,
Caroline Bain
The Book Professional
Testimonials
"Caroline has undertaken both conservation and restoration work on volumes from the Burghley Collection. I have found her work to be skilful, she is a delightful conservator to work with."
Jon Culverhouse, Curator, Burghley House.
"Caroline has been helping us conserve the book collection at Grimsthorpe Castle for several years now. Not only is Caroline delightful to deal with, her work is consistently excellent – sympathetically carried out with a great attention to detail, she conserves original bindings wherever possible to preserve the integrity of the item. Caroline’s knowledge and enthusiasm for her subject is impressive. I would thoroughly recommend her."
Emma Miller, Collections Curator. Grimsthorpe and Drummond Castle Trust