‘I'll never forget this repair'

Painting conservator Lucia Scalisi tells TV Times about a very moving restoration

- REBECCA FLETCHER

THE REPAIR SHOP

WEDNESDAY / BBC1 / 8PM (TIMES VARY) / FACTUAL

As The Repair Shop’s resident painting conservator, Lucia Scalisi has lovingly restored many treasured pieces of artwork to their former glory on the ever-popular BBC1 show.

This week, Lucia takes on one of her most emotional repairs yet, when a couple brings a cherished seascape painting into the barn after losing their baby son, Elijah.

‘It’s a repair I’ll never forget and one that was a real privilege to work on,’ says Lucia.

Here, she talks to TV Times about this incredibly special story…

What can you tell us about Elijah’s painting?

A couple called Jenny and James bring a beautiful seascape by 19th-century artist Edwin Hayes into the barn. It was given to them by grandparents and gained poignancy after their baby son, Elijah was born prematurely and died after only 37 days.

They started visiting the Pembrokeshire seashore – they found it cathartic being by the sea – and they’d come home and look at the painting of a rocky harbor and rowing boat and felt it symbolized their turbulent emotions.

They found solace in the painting and wanted to have it restored because it had grown to mean so much to them.