Beryl Cook

Beryl Cook is an artist much loved for her original and instantly recognisable paintings. 

Self taught, Beryl prepared every picture fastidiously. They began as little sketches on cards often drawn surreptitiously under cover of her handbag.

I feel much better when I’m painting. It isn’t why I paint. I paint because I like doing it, but at the same time I wouldn’t be worrying about anything else – only my painting.

Her works were often comical and featured people who she encountered in everyday life... ordinary people enjoying themselves in pubs, girls shopping or out on a hen night, drag queen shows or a family picnicking by the seaside or abroad.

Human nature is immensely interesting to me and I accept it all, just as it is. I love it when I see people enjoying themselves. I’d quite like to be the one singing and dancing drunkenly in the middle of a crowd!

Her first exhibition was in 1975, since when her trademark pictures of larger than life characters have become well known the world over.  Beryl Cook’s first pictures were created on driftwood, picked up from the beach.

Despite the art world’s snooty view of Beryl Cook’s paintings, the public love them. In 2004, her boisterous characters starred in a two-part animated BBC TV series called Bosom Pals.

To learn more about Beryl Cook click and explore any of her media channels and network links in the tool-bar above.