Claire Fear
Field of Traces



Structure and material hold memory
My work examines the evidence

FIELD NOTES








Thoughts about Practice
   

As a practising architect specialising in complex industrial heritage sites, I spend much of my professional life considering the survival of buildings, the significance embedded within them, and why we choose to care.

My research-led photographic practice examines the material and emotional life of buildings through photography, text, drawing and site-responsive installation. Rooted in the study and care of cultural heritage, the work considers buildings as active bodies that hold evidence of use, change, repair and human occupation. It brings contemporary photography and artistic research into direct conversation with historic sites, archives and conservation practice.

I ask what structures remember.







Curriculum Vitae


Awards


2026 RIBA South West and Wessex
   
     Project Architect of the Year 2026

     Project Winner

     Client of the Year

2026 Civic Trust Award

2026 Civiic Trust - Highly Recommended

2025 AJ Retrofit of the Year
   
     AJ Retrofit - Conservation Project under £5m

2025 Cornish Building Group - Award

2025 Cornish Building Group - UNESCO Site - Award

2025 National Railway Heritage Award -

     Best Overall - 2025

2025 Somerset Building Preservation Trust - Highly

     Commended

2024 Surface of the Year

2024 Somerset Building Preservation Trust -

     Research Award





Talks / Lectures


2026 RIBA ReWork Conference

2026 SAVE - Building at Risk Launch Lecture 2026

2026 Working with Industrial Memory, Terrain

    Talks, Plymouth

2026 The Association for Preservation Technology

     International - UK Tour Building Visit & Talk

2025 Cornish Building Group

2025 Falmouth University - Sustainable

     Regeneration

2025 Salford University - Studio Talk -    

     Sustainable Heritage

2025 RIBA / AHF Conference - Funding Landscape

2025 Frome Society for Local Studies

2024 SPAB Scholars visit & Building Tour

2024 Historic England Technical Tuesday Seminar

2022 Bath University Lecture

2022 Tone Works Conference (initiated by Thread)

2022 Firm Foundations Speaker

2021 Museum of East Dorset

2021 Dublin School of Architecture

2020 RIBA Guerilla Tactics Conference

2020 Dublin School of Architecture

2019 Wiveliscombe Civic and Historical Society

2018 West Somerset Community Land Trust

2018 Somerset Archeological & Natural History

     Society

2018 Wiveliscombe Primary School - Workshop

2017 Plymouth University - State of the Profession

     Symposium

2016 Plymouth University - PADS Talk

2016 Exmoor Archeology Forum

2015 Wiveliscombe Civic Society Talk


Publications

Architects Journal
Architects Journal Specification
RIBA J
Architecture Today  

The Architectural Review
Glass International




Qualifications

MA(Hons) M(Arch) ARB RIBA AABC

2025 - 2027 MA Professional Photography
            Oxford Brookes University


2015        Architect Accredited in Building      
            Conservation (AABC)
            (re-accredited 2026 - 2031)


2012        DAC Registered Architect

2006        Royal Institute of British            
            Architects (RIBA)


2006        Chartered Architect,ARB


2006        Certificate of Architectural                
            Professional Practice
            (RIBA Part III)

            University of Plymouth  

2002        M(Arch) (RIBA Part II),              
            University of Edinburgh

2000        MA(Hons) - (RIBA Part I)
            First Class Honours,
            University of Edinburgh




Appointments

2026-2031   External Examiner (MA) University of  
            Plymouth


2016-2020   Visiting Lecturer, University of Bath        

2012-2016   Trustee - Wiveliscombe Town Hall      
            Building Preservation Trust


2012        Bath and West Diocese List of Approved
            Architects


2012        Exeter Diocese List of Approved      
            Architects




Experience

2012        Architectural Thread Ltd (currrent)
            Founder, Director & Project Architect


2005-2012   Louise Crossman Architects

2002-2005   Thomas Architects, Wells, Somerset

2001-2003   Everett Everett Fine Art,
            Picture Restoration & Conservation    
            (Fine Art Conservator Apprenticeship)


2000        Conservation Work on Cistercian Abbey,
            Clare Island, Ireland


1999        National Gallery Design Studio, London
            (Placement - Assistant)


1999        Royal Fine Art Commission for                    
            Scotland, Edinburgh -
            Assistant Curator


1995        S.O.C. Rava & C.r.s.l, Art &                      
            Architectural Restorers, Turin, Italy