Welcome to Tilia Gilding, the studio of Rachael Linton, a New Zealand-born artist who trained in England and is now based back in her homeland New Zealand. Specialising in the art of gilding, Rachael applies pure gold leaf to frames, furniture, fine art, and architectural elements. With traditional water-gilding and oil-gilding techniques, her notable projects include the Queen's robing room at Westminster Palace and the Cutty Sark.
Rachael's journey into gilding began in 2013, following her research in electromagnetic frequencies and their therapeutic effects during her Master’s degree in Digital Media Artistry & Design. This unique blend of art and science continues to influence her work, creating stunning, meaningful artworks as well as custom traditionally gilded elements.
Rachael offers bespoke gilding services on a commission basis, bringing a touch of historical craftsmanship to modern projects. Contact Tilia Gilding to discuss your custom gilding needs and schedule a visit.
Rachael became a gilder in 2013. During her Master’s degree in Digital Media Artistry & Design (2008), she researched the ways in which electromagnetic frequencies interact with the human body to produce therapeutic outcomes. Since gold, silver, and copper conduct energy and have many therapeutic uses within the body, she began applying gold and other precious metals to her artworks and voilà, she was hired by the renowned English furniture maker ' Restall Brown and Clennell' as a gilder.
A visionary at heart, Rachael contributes to the art world with lustre, uniting history with the present and art with science. She is fascinated by watching what happens when we allow time and space for nature to do its magic, allowing metallic patinas and decay to change bright and lustrous objects. Rachael is well known for her work with cymatics which is the study of visible sound vibration. She creates engaging paintings and art installations that invite viewers to contemplate the mystical relationship between humans, energy and the physical world. Her work often incorporates elements such as pure gold, light, and sound vibrations to explore this connection.
ABOUT THE NAME - TILIA GILDING:
Rachael Linton established 'Tilia Gilding' for her gilding services in 2014. 'Tilia' is Latin for Linden Tree, Lime tree. The linden flower is at the top of our logo. Lime wood, or Tilia, has been a favored choice for carving frames since the Renaissance (15th–16th centuries), especially in Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. Its fine grain, soft texture, and resistance to warping made it ideal for intricate carvings, reaching peak popularity during the Baroque and Rococo periods. Master carvers like Grinling Gibbons (1648–1721) used it extensively for ornate, gilded frames and architectural decorations. Its use continued through the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in neoclassical and Victorian designs.
It was also the original wood used to make panels for gilded icon paintings in the 17th-19th centuries, as well as the ornate water-gilded frames that you might see in museums and galleries.
EXHIBITIONS & PROJECTS:
2024
Relish Festival – Interactive art installation, Golden Water Gong Exhibition
Relish Festival – Interactive art installation, Golden Water Gong Exhibition
2023
Arts Canterbury – Open Studios with the Green-Gold Gallery
Otago Art Society Exhibition – Cleveland National Art Awards
Arts Canterbury – Open Studios with the Green-Gold Gallery
Otago Art Society Exhibition – Cleveland National Art Awards
2022
Queenstown Art Society Exhibition – Lost in Hue & Laneway Showcase
Medicine Festival – Kinetic art sculpture, Golden Water Gong
Buddhafield – Kinetic art sculpture, Golden Water Gong
Noisily Festival – Kinetic art sculpture, Golden Water Gong
The Cymatone Project, Portugal – Vocal toning experiment with Golden Water Gong
Queenstown Art Society Exhibition – Lost in Hue & Laneway Showcase
Medicine Festival – Kinetic art sculpture, Golden Water Gong
Buddhafield – Kinetic art sculpture, Golden Water Gong
Noisily Festival – Kinetic art sculpture, Golden Water Gong
The Cymatone Project, Portugal – Vocal toning experiment with Golden Water Gong
2020
Medicine Festival – Golden Water Gong with levitating ceiling for projections, interactive kinetic art
Medicine Festival – Golden Water Gong with levitating ceiling for projections, interactive kinetic art
2019
Delta House Open Studios – Golden Water Gong, kinetic art and fine art, group show
Birdwood House, Totnes, UK – Solo fine art exhibition
Into the Wild Festival – Golden Water Gong, kinetic art installation
Breaking Convention – Golden Water Gong, kinetic art installation
Delta House Open Studios – Golden Water Gong, kinetic art and fine art, group show
Birdwood House, Totnes, UK – Solo fine art exhibition
Into the Wild Festival – Golden Water Gong, kinetic art installation
Breaking Convention – Golden Water Gong, kinetic art installation
2018
Magical Woods Festival – First rendition of Golden Water Gong, interactive kinetic art installation
Heritage Craft Association – Created a 45-min film & trailer on gilding teaching, featuring work on the Cutty Sark for the Endangered Crafts ‘Red List’ movement.
Wells Cathedral & St Albans Cathedral – 1066 – A Medieval Mosaic Exhibition Tour
Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths – Teaching gilding
Totnes and Dartington Open Studios – Exhibition of paintings and fine art
Oxford Open Doors – Exhibition of 1066, A Medieval Mosaic
Magical Woods Festival – First rendition of Golden Water Gong, interactive kinetic art installation
Heritage Craft Association – Created a 45-min film & trailer on gilding teaching, featuring work on the Cutty Sark for the Endangered Crafts ‘Red List’ movement.
Wells Cathedral & St Albans Cathedral – 1066 – A Medieval Mosaic Exhibition Tour
Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths – Teaching gilding
Totnes and Dartington Open Studios – Exhibition of paintings and fine art
Oxford Open Doors – Exhibition of 1066, A Medieval Mosaic
2017
Various Outdoor Festivals – Golden Cymatics Gong Bath, kinetic art sculpture
The Psychedelic Society, Cyberdelics Incubator – Lecture on the development of VR Digital Therapy
Various Outdoor Festivals – Golden Cymatics Gong Bath, kinetic art sculpture
The Psychedelic Society, Cyberdelics Incubator – Lecture on the development of VR Digital Therapy
2016
950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, Hastings – A Medieval Mosaic, Guinness World Record-winning recreation of the Bayeux Tapestry (collaboration with father, made of 3 million tiny pieces of steel)
950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, Hastings – A Medieval Mosaic, Guinness World Record-winning recreation of the Bayeux Tapestry (collaboration with father, made of 3 million tiny pieces of steel)
2015
Astronomy Fair – Marbling Cymatics art display and public education on cymatics
STEM Big Bang South East, Careers Fair – Cymatics art display, educating school students (ages 9–19) on being a full-time artist
Mind Body Spirit Festival, Olympia, London – Crystal Cymatics, digital media fine art and live video immersive installation with sound healer Tiffany Keywood inside the Soul Dome 360° immersive Cinema
Astronomy Fair – Marbling Cymatics art display and public education on cymatics
STEM Big Bang South East, Careers Fair – Cymatics art display, educating school students (ages 9–19) on being a full-time artist
Mind Body Spirit Festival, Olympia, London – Crystal Cymatics, digital media fine art and live video immersive installation with sound healer Tiffany Keywood inside the Soul Dome 360° immersive Cinema
2014
Kinetica, Old Truman Brewery, London – Aura Illuminator, interactive digital art installation
Brighton Digital Festival, Phoenix Gallery – The New Sublime: Cymatics Response, digital art installation
Digital Art Gong Show, Phoenix Gallery – Speaking engagement on digital art and cymatics film therapy
Kymatic Konference, Black Forest, Germany – Interviewed for a cymatics documentary by expert Jeff Volk
Mind Body Spirit Festival, Olympia, London – Painting exhibition
Brighton Digital Festival, Zu Studios – Sounds Holographic, multimedia performance with kinetic art installation and gong bath inside Soul Dome 360° immersive Cinema
Kinetica, Old Truman Brewery, London – Aura Illuminator, interactive digital art installation
Brighton Digital Festival, Phoenix Gallery – The New Sublime: Cymatics Response, digital art installation
Digital Art Gong Show, Phoenix Gallery – Speaking engagement on digital art and cymatics film therapy
Kymatic Konference, Black Forest, Germany – Interviewed for a cymatics documentary by expert Jeff Volk
Mind Body Spirit Festival, Olympia, London – Painting exhibition
Brighton Digital Festival, Zu Studios – Sounds Holographic, multimedia performance with kinetic art installation and gong bath inside Soul Dome 360° immersive Cinema
2013
Mind Body Spirit Festival, Olympia, London – Cymatics interactive kinetic digital installation
Brighton Fringe Festival, Jubilee Square – Eon Solace, collaboration with sound healer Rowan Sterk inside the Soul Dome 360° immersive Cinema
The Omnia Scroll Exhibition, Venice – Gold and silver fine art prints (now in a private collection)
Mind Body Spirit Festival, Olympia, London – Cymatics interactive kinetic digital installation
Brighton Fringe Festival, Jubilee Square – Eon Solace, collaboration with sound healer Rowan Sterk inside the Soul Dome 360° immersive Cinema
The Omnia Scroll Exhibition, Venice – Gold and silver fine art prints (now in a private collection)
2012
TSB Bank Wallace Arts Trust, Pah Homestead, New Zealand – Solo exhibition of gilded paintings in pure gold, silver & copper (6 works in the private collection of Sir James Wallace)
TSB Bank Wallace Arts Trust, Pah Homestead, New Zealand – Solo exhibition of gilded paintings in pure gold, silver & copper (6 works in the private collection of Sir James Wallace)
2008
Master’s Exhibition of Digital Art & Thesis ‘Sound Vision’ – Could the visual form of sound be therapeutic?
Master’s Exhibition of Digital Art & Thesis ‘Sound Vision’ – Could the visual form of sound be therapeutic?
Publications
As a Gilder and Fine Artist Rachael has been featured in several notable publications:
Hans Jenny's Book "CYMATICS" Her artist commentary appears in this seminal resource on cymatics - 2024.
Homes & Antiques UK. Magazine (March 2019, UK) – Featured in Artical as part of the Heritage Craft Association’s Red List of Endangered Crafts, gilding the Cutty Sark.
Documentary Film ‘Gilding the Gingerbread - A documentary by Bruno Sorrentino, sponsored by the Heritage Craft Association, Rachael starred, teaching traditional gilding techniques to trainees on the Cutty Sark -2014.
Homes & Antiques UK. Magazine (March 2019, UK) – Featured in Artical as part of the Heritage Craft Association’s Red List of Endangered Crafts, gilding the Cutty Sark.
Documentary Film ‘Gilding the Gingerbread - A documentary by Bruno Sorrentino, sponsored by the Heritage Craft Association, Rachael starred, teaching traditional gilding techniques to trainees on the Cutty Sark -2014.
Clients & Affiliations
Institutions & Organizations
Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
Heritage Crafts Association
Society of Gilders USA
Gilding & Conservation Studios
Gold Leaf Supplies
The Gilders Framing
Restall Brown & Clennell
Campbell Smith & Co
DBR Conservation
Watergilders of Devon
Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
Heritage Crafts Association
Society of Gilders USA
Gilding & Conservation Studios
Gold Leaf Supplies
The Gilders Framing
Restall Brown & Clennell
Campbell Smith & Co
DBR Conservation
Watergilders of Devon
Art & Design Collaborations
Rhode Fine Art
Claude Gallery
Linley
Jonathan Sainsbury
Rhode Fine Art
Claude Gallery
Linley
Jonathan Sainsbury
Notable Commissions & Private Clients
Duke of Wellington
Dominic Schuster
Nick McCaan – Artist
Guinevere Antiques
Overmantels London
Hotel Endsleigh
Duke of Wellington
Dominic Schuster
Nick McCaan – Artist
Guinevere Antiques
Overmantels London
Hotel Endsleigh
Luxury Interiors & Heritage Restoration
Stately homes & heritage buildings in the UK
Private artists, collectors & art investors
Bespoke interior designers & luxury furniture makers
Stately homes & heritage buildings in the UK
Private artists, collectors & art investors
Bespoke interior designers & luxury furniture makers