ART lovers will have the chance to see how a work by one of Britain's most important painters is restored.

Lowther Castle - Evening, by JMW Turner, was added to The Bowes Museum’s permanent collection earlier this year after it was given to the nation.

Since its arrival, Jon Old, conservation manager at the museum, in Barnard Castle, has carried out some background work on the painting and a chemical analysis has taken place cleaning.

He said: “Turner often used a lot of wax in his paint, which can make it difficult to clean, but analysis shows there is none present, which should hopefully make the job a little easier.”

Visitors can watch Mr Old at work on the Turner painting from 10.30am-4pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from November 5 to November 21.

The painting is one of a commissioned pair, the other of which remains in private ownership.

Lowther Castle was in the process of being built when Turner visited in 1809 to gather sketches of architectural details and drawings of the surrounding landscape.

It was still under construction when the artist exhibited the completed paintings at the Royal Academy in 1810.

Once restored, the painting will hang in The Bowes Museum’s recently-refurbished suite of painting galleries.