Curators at Winston Churchill's former home are working virtually during lockdown to get his paintings ready for a special exhibition.

The painting studio at Chartwell, in Westerham near Sevenoaks, is one of first to use digital technology to redisplay the space as it would have been when Churchill knew it best.

In preparation for a major refurbishment, Chartwell is one of the first to use a scaled digital replica of Churchill’s own painting studio allowing a team of curators to work together virtually to curate 141 paintings in a studio reminiscent of the early 1960s.

Chartwell opened to the public in 1966 and with the support of his widow, Clementine Churchill and daughter Mary Soames, the house and studio were displayed as they may have looked in the 1930s, during the Churchills' heyday.

To support this several paintings were moved and the oak shelving that Churchill had used to frame his works was lost and painted over.

Over the next 60 or so years Chartwell has been gifted several of his paintings and, thanks to the support of the Churchill’s Chartwell Appeal, Chartwell is able to turn the clock back on the studio and redisplay the space to show Churchill’s work in a studio as he would have used it.

Project curator, Katherine Carter said: "The Studio contains the single largest collection of Churchill paintings in the world. To be able to recreate the display to more accurately reflect how Churchill himself knew it enables us to have a deeper understanding of him as an artist and the great pride he took in showcasing his paintings within that space’.

‘With the help of historic photos, the digital studio software display has allowed National Trust curators isolating in lockdown to collaborate virtually to create a preliminary draft of how the physical space of the studio could be arranged in a way that is both achievable and in keeping with the style of the early 1960s.’

Though digital software has been used in museums and historic sites before, this is perhaps the first time such digital software has been used to display an artist’s studio in its original context.

Preliminary work on the studio before lockdown had already unearthed some interesting features.

She added: "Whilst stripping back the paint on the oak frames surrounding Churchill’s paintings we’ve been able to take a closer look to match materials and return to the studio more authentic shelving that’s closer in colour to the original oak.’

Designed by Figment, the software developed out of the Digital Painting Guides of the studio, introduced by the Churchill’s Chartwell Appeal in September last year. These guides available to visitors give a 360 degree view of the studio with interactive touch elements that provide more in-depth detail on Churchill’s works.

Though Churchill didn’t begin painting until the age of 41, in just under 50 years he painted more than 500 canvases. Set to finish in late 2020, the studio refurbishment will redisplay Churchill’s painting studio in a display similar to that of its 1960s hang.

* The National Trust's sites, including Chartwell, are currently closed during the coronavirus outbreak.

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