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
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