Fine Art Blog

Category: Beryl Cook

Beryl Cook

  • Beryl Cook News – Official Collectors edition release: ‘Dancing the Black Bottom’

    Although the wonderful Beryl Cook is no longer with us, she most certainly lives on in her popular postcard-esque paintings. Cook was known for her portrayals of saucy, larger than life characters, often seen to be completely engrossed in their spit-and-sawdust pub social life.


    Beryl Cook: ‘Dancing the Black Bottom’
    Published 2011, Official Collectors Edition
    Limited Edition of 650 (unsigned, posthumous release)

    The ‘larger’ ladies and male characters that commonly feature in her work are inspired by the colourful characters Beryl came across in the Dolphin Pub, whilst living in the seaside town of Plymouth. In stark contrast her characters Beryl was a shy, modest woman. You could say that it was this dissimilarity that drove her to perpetually observe these larger than life personalities, as although Beryl felt she could never be this way in person, she could, in a sense, be a bit flamboyant and saucy through her art.


    Beryl Cook ‘The Last Gasp’
    Published 2010, Official Collectors Edition
    Limited Edition of 650 (unsigned, posthumous release)

    Her pieces are always full of colour and have fun titles that have the ability to make you giggle. You feel that you could walk into any pub in any British seaside town and encounter the characters Beryl is famous for painting. Her art is all about pleasure; her characters are always seen enjoying the guilty pleasures of nightlife, including booze, fags, and with a little imagination sordid chitchat and gossip. She was most definitely a talented woman that will be deeply missed by the art world and fans alike.


    Beryl Cook: ‘Drinkies’
    Published 2009, Official Collectors Edition
    Limited Edition of 650 (unsigned, posthumous release)

    We have seen all of these releases in person and the colour reproduction is superb, we feel the printing technology continues to improve year on year in the UK. Also they are professionally printed, mounted, come with certificates & are personally approved by the family to print;

    It was their express wish that her pictures continue to be made available to the public. Our research shows that these lithographic prints remain the most cost effective way of owning high quality, large, collectable limited editions of her work.

    thank you

    Jenna

    Useful Links:
    BBC Audio slideshow featuring interviews with the artist
    www.thesun.co.uk – tribute and slideshow of images

  • Artist Beryl Cook: Sadly Missed but Never Forgotton

    She was well known for painting slightly larger ladies on a night out on the town, in short, tight dresses as well as enjoying other frivolities. Beryl Cook’s humorous take on the human race created a very big following for this talented lady. She was been lucky enough to be on TV, had films made about her, was made an OBE and all because a friend who owned an auction in Plymouth persuaded her to sell some of her art in their shop!


    Clubbing In The Rain by Beryl Cook

    She was born in 1926 and did not show any artisitc talent in her youth. However, in 1943 she was a showgirl in a touring production called “The Gypsy Princess” and that, coupled with work experience in the fashion industry, was her inspiration and caused her fascination with the way people look and dress. This we can clearly see in her art.


    Hen Night by Beryl Cook

    Later, while living in Plymouth with her husband, she used to go out to bars and clubs where they enjoyed watching the flamboyance of drag shows. This was another inspiration which has affected her style in her art work.


    Panto Dame by Beryl Cook

    Beryl Cook’s work was first exhibited in 1975 and was highly successful. In fact, it was so successful that an article was done in the Sunday Times about her works shortly after, followed by a call from a London Gallery who offered Beryl her first ever London Exhibition, and the rest is history!


    Tarzanogram by Beryl Cook

    She has said that other artists that have inspired her work include Stanley Spencer and Edward Burra.

    Beryl recieved an OBE in 1995, and even contributed to the Queens Golden Jubilee exhibition in 2002 which was another great success for her.

    Finally, she has been televised several times, whether they be in animation form, documentary or Chat show:
    A film was made about her for The South Bank Show.
    2 half hour animated films were made about her with an all star cast which was called “Bosom Pals” This also won some awards for Beryl.
    Also, in 2005 Channel 4 did a short film about her work, and in 2006 BBC featured her in a show called “Art School”.

    Sadly, Berly passed away in May 2008. But she lives on through her many fans and her sense of humour will forever be visible in her work.

    Click here to see The Guardians obituary for this talented lady

    Thanks for reading

    Vicki

  • Artist Beryl Cook News, 28th January 2009 – New Release ‘Drinkies’

    We are delighted to announce that there is a new Beryl Cook limited edition print being released, with more to follow later in the year.

    The first of which will be called ‘Drinkies’ and is the all too familiar (lol) scene of a ‘fat lady’ in her underwear, at home, and at the drinks cabinet!..the item is to be released on the 30th January 2009.

    (‘Drinkies’ by Beryl Cook)

    This delightful and cheeky image follows in the footsteps of all her previous work and will make an excellent addition to any Beryl Cook collection. I can’t see how this wouldn’t bring a smile to anyone’s face.

    Of note, these are numbered limited editions of 650 and of course, will NOT be signed by Beryl Cook, as this is the first posthumous publication.

    (‘Tenerife Days’ by Beryl Cook
    This is an older release but one of my favourites)

    According to the publishers of her work:

    “Her express wish and that of her family was that her pictures should continue to be made available for reproduction after her passing”

    Your comments on the piece are of course more than welcome. Her new image will im sure capture the public imagination yet again!

    Thank you

    James

    Useful links:
    Why is Beryl Cook so popular?
    Last years Beryl Cook exhibition in Plymouth

  • Beryl Cook’s limited edition art – selling fast everywhere

    The rush for Beryl Cook’s work continues as the public continues to pay tribute to one of the UK’s most beloved artists by buying some of her signed limited edition pieces.

    (The Birthday Cake by Beryl Cook)

    The cheekiness of her work is something that brought a smile to so many of us, she seemed to capture something very quaint about British people’s lives and social behaviour.

    (Dirty Dancing by Beryl Cook)

    Although not as brash as saucy seaside humour, the type of which you see on postcards at British seaside destinations, there was still something very ‘tongue in cheek’ about her work. The scenes she painted, whether it be: a bar, a café or a music room and the characters within them, we can all identify some of those characters in own lives, or maybe we see ourselves!

    (Shoe Shop by Beryl Cook)

    The 4 lithographic images still available at published price are within this post, and make a good investment as all retail at under £300 (recommended retail price £282.00) and will be signed by the artist. Ill comment on her signed, Silkscreen, limited edition work and its investment value soon.

    Some of her recent Lithographic sell outs, such as ‘Full House,’ ‘In the Snug’ & ‘Strip Poker’ are already Retailing at £400 – £500 in some shops, quite a good profit if you bought recently!

    (Bus Stop by Beryl Cook)

    Thank you

    Russell

    Useful Links:
    http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-16401525.html
    http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/blog/archives/000451.php