Beryl Cook
Biography
Beryl Cook has become one of the most popular and best loved of British artists. Her paintings and prints have attracted enthusiasts from all walks of life and backgrounds. The colour, wit, vulgarity and sheer fun of her subjects have caught the imaginations of Britons and Americans alike, and on both sides of the Atlantic there are avid collectors awaiting any new work. Born in 1926, Beryl went to school in Reading, but showed no particular inclination towards art. Her first job was a very junior junior in an insurance office. When she was 17 years old her family moved to London, and Beryl joined the theatre, taking part in a touring production of “The Gypsy Princess”. Beryl married her childhood sweetheart, John Cook, then an officer in the Merchant Navy. Their son, John, was born in 1950, and several years later John senior left the sea to manage a pub in Essex. Later, the family moved to Southern Rhodesia, and it was during this period that Beryl first began to paint. She was teaching her son how to use his paintbox when her interest was caught - and stayed captivated! Her first paintings were of the native women and the local markets of Africa. When the family moved back to the West Country, Beryl started to paint in oils, on wood or even cardboard. Her paintings, then as now, reflected every aspect of life around her - joggers, naughty nudes, gays, ladies playing bowls, the fatuous, the outrageous and the down-and-outs. In 1975, Beryl’s first exhibition was held at Plymouth Art Centre. An article appeared both about Beryl and the exhibition in the Sunday Times Magazine and this prompted immediate interest from the London galleries. Her first exhibition at the Portal Gallery, which still handles her work, was an immediate sell-out. In 1987, London Contemporary Art was granted the exclusive rights to market Beryl Cook’s original prints in the UK. Despite all the acclaim, Beryl Cook was essentially a private person. She avoided press interviews - and press photographs - preferring even to paint her own portraits for her publicity. Her strength was her capacity as an observer. This, with her individuality of style, ensures that her work will continue to be collectible - and enjoyed. Sadly Beryl died on 28th May 2008, aged 81.