About Sophie

Gilding is my passion and I have been fortunate enough to work as a professional gilder for over thirty years.

Indeed I have to thank the Prince's Trust for awarding me a grant when I first ventured into business on my own account. My commissions have been both varied and interesting and taken me far and wide taking me up church spires and clock towers, from sundials to bandstands, on yachts to various National Trust Buildings, places of historic interest and to celebrities and royal households.

My speciality is in fact water gilding and throughout the years I have gilded overmantels, furniture, sculptures, ornate ceilings and delicate mouldings. In addition I have gained extensive knowledge on framing from my late father Ben Levene R.A. as we worked closely together choosing frames for his paintings.

As an interesting footnote,when researching my family history recently I found to my surprise that my ancestors were gilders to the Tzar of Russia so it seems my choice of career was preordained from the outset and no doubt this explains my passion!