- Conservation and Repair, Masonry and Carving
Starting out as a dry-stone waller in Cornwall, Nigel Copsey later trained as stonemason and carver at Weymouth College, working largely thereafter in the conservation industry across England as well as in the United States and in Granada, Andalusia.
Nigel has worked extensively as consultant and practitioner in the field of building conservation and repair in North Yorkshire upon a wide range of vernacular and high status buildings and most recently on behalf of Natural England. Nigel has contributed to several volumes of the recently published Historic England Practical Conservation series.
A committed SPAB-member Nigel is also a Professionally Accredited Conservator- Restorer and determined advocate for the thoroughgoing use of traditional materials in the care and repair of old buildings. He is a leading advocate for the routine use of like for like hot mixed lime mortars for most applications, working extensively with Historic England and international partners in the delivery of practical training and education in the informed use of traditional quicklime mortars.
A Research Associate of the Department of Archaeology, York University, Nigel regularly delivers hot mixed earth and lime mortars and traditional skills training and leads the Practical Skills module for the MA Conservation Studies. Nigel has a BA(Hons) Political Science from the University of York and a PGDip in Building Conservation from Bournemouth University.