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 |  | Report and interview by Faye Claridge, web producer
After spending an amazing £64m on renovating the mansion at Compton Verney, the Peter Moores Foundation is has opened the house and gardens as a world-class art gallery.
|  | One of the more traditional gallery rooms |
It houses four distinct art collections and - for the next sixth months only - a fascinating installation by the brilliant Peter Greenaway.
Follow this link to read a review of this temporary exhibition and to hear an interview with Peter Greenaway.
Virtual visit
Click on the images button below to see a sneaky preview of Compton Verney before it opens to the public.
The gallery of photographs show the mansion and some of the artworks you can see there.
Realisation of a dream
|  | The new wing of the mansion |
The architectural masterpiece of Compton Verney has been transformed from a derelict mansion into a major new art venue.
Read about the refurbishment with this feature for BBC restoration.
As well as a real boost for Warwickshire, it's the realisation of a life-long dream for British philanthropist Sir Peter Moores.
As a big art fan he's always wanted to publicly encourage a love of the arts. Because of this aim, despite its austere appearance from the outside, Compton Verney has been restored to create a very welcoming environment. You could almost feel like moving in yourself!
Hear me in conversation with Sir Peter Moores by clicking on the audio link on the top left. We talked about the gallery, what visitors can expect and why he chose to set this up in Warwickshire.
Sex, death and something in between
|  | Part of the installation by Peter Greenaway |
The opening of the house gives you the first opportunity to see an impressive permanent collection and a changing programme of artworks.
For the first six months the temporary exhibition is an installation throughout the galleries and grounds by the world-renowned director Peter Greenaway.
Read a review of the exhibition here.
Classic collections
|  | Detail of one of the paintings in the folk art gallery |
On permanent display are collections that include Italian paintings from Naples (1600-1800); German paintings and sculpture (1450-1650); bronzes and pottery from China; British portraits; British folk art and the Marx-Lambert collection of popular art.
All are beautifully presented and are shown in styles to suit the work. This ranges from casual rustic presentation, to grand classical style, and in some cases is deliberately aimed at children.
£64m setting
Compton Verney House is a Georgian neo-classical mansion designed in the 1760s by Robert Adam and built around an existing Baroque house.
The 120-acre grounds form part of a landscape designed by ‘Capability’ Brown, who was also the architect of the chapel.
|  | Gallery area |
The house was bought in 1993 by the Peter Moores Foundation which established the Compton Verney House Trust to transform the mansion into a gallery of international standard.
To date, the foundation has committed a staggering £64m on funding renovations, building the new gallery and learning centre and acquiring further artworks for the collection.
Sir Peter Moores has been passionate about art reaching as many people as possible from the start.
He said: "Opening Compton Verney is the culmination of a 10-year project to restore this wonderful historic house and landscape.
|  | Medieval artwork on show |
"The aim is for as many people as possible to enjoy the works of art in the collections, as well as experience new contemporary art projects."
The figures speak for themselves - it is astonishing that this visionary established the Peter Moores Foundation in 1964 and has since spent more than £93m of his own money on the arts as well as environmental and social causes.
Don't miss the chance to visit
Make the most of Sir Peter Moores' largest project yet by making a date to visit. I'm certain people will flock here from all over the UK and the world, so join them and make the most of it being just down the road.
Compton Verney is open every day from 10am - 5pm until October.
For a bargain, go on a Wednesday afternoon, when entrance costs just £1 for everyone.
Follow this link to the Compton Verney website for all the visitor details.
Public transport
You can now get to Compton Verney using public transport. Stagecoach has introduced a stop immediately outside Compton Verney on the number 77 bus route from Stratford, Leamington and Warwick.
It also stops at the Heritage Motor Centre and Alveston Youth Hostel.
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