Beryl Cook (British, 1926–2008) was famous for her comical paintings and limited edition prints of people, many of which are based on her hometown of Plymouth, England, including Hen Night, Jackpot, Ladies Night, Bowling Ladies, Party Girls, Strippergram, and Tango Busking.
Cook was born in Surrey, England and was one of four children. She left school at 14 and worked in a variety of jobs, including in the fashion industry, where she developed an interest in observing people’s appearance and behavior, which provided inspiration for her paintings in later life.
Cook refused to paint the sinister aspects of life, instead choosing to depict happy, flamboyant, and extroverted characters in everyday situations. The appeal of Cook’s work lies in the directness, exuberance, and joy they create. Cook painted what she described as “ordinary people enjoying themselves.”
In 1975, Cook held her first exhibition, which resulted in a cover feature in London’s Sunday Times. The following year, Cook had her first sold-out London exhibition. Since then, her work has been featured in many exhibitions and museums including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Exhibition in London, England; the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, England; and the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow, Scotland. Cook’s female characters also served as the inspiration for two thirty-minute animated films titled Bosom Pals. Cook’s works have been featured in The Observer, Evening Post, Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard, Sunday Express, The Independent, Hello Magazine, Private Eye, and the International Herald Tribune. Cook died at the age of 81 in Plymouth, England.