Beryl Cook | Naïve painter | Masterpiece

Beryl Cook, OBE (1926-2008) was a British artist best known for her original and instantly recognisable paintings.

Often comical, her works pictured people whom she encountered in everyday life, including 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.

She had no formal training and did not take up painting until her thirties.

She was a shy and private person, and in her art often depicted the flamboyant and extrovert characters so different to herself.

Cook admired the work of the English artist Stanley Spencer, his influence evident in her compositions and bold bulky figures.

Another influence was Edward Burra, who painted sleazy cafés, nightclubs, gay bars, sailors and prostitutes, although, unlike Burra, she did not paint the sinister aspects of scenes.

She had an almost photographic memory.

Although widely popular and recognised as one of the most well-known contemporary British artists, Cook never enjoyed acceptance by the art establishment.

Beryl Cook died on 28 May 2008 at her home in Plymouth.

Peninsula Arts of the Plymouth University mounted a major retrospective exhibition in November that year.

Two books devoted to her were published: Beryl Cook 1926-2008 and The World of Beryl Cook.

In 2010, two of her paintings were used as part of the Rude Britannia exhibition at the Tate Britain.

Beryl Cook's paintings have been acquired by the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow, Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth Art Gallery and Durham Museum.

Her work has been compared to that of Colombian artist Fernando Botero. | Source: © Wikipedia

Beryl Cook, OBE (10 settembre 1926 - 28 maggio 2008) è stata un'artista Britannica, nota soprattutto per i suoi dipinti originali ed immediatamente riconoscibili.

Spesso comiche, le sue opere raffiguravano persone che incontrava nella vita di tutti i giorni, comprese persone che si divertivano nei pub, ragazze che facevano shopping o uscivano durante un addio al nubilato, spettacoli di drag queen o un picnic in famiglia in riva al mare od all'estero.

Non aveva una formazione formale e non ha iniziato a dipingere fino ai trent'anni.

Era una persona timida e riservata, e nella sua arte spesso raffigurava personaggi stravaganti ed estroversi così diversi da lei.

Cook ammirava il lavoro dell'artista inglese Stanley Spencer, la sua influenza evidente nelle sue composizioni e nelle figure audaci e voluminose.

Un'altra influenza fu Edward Burra, che dipinse squallidi caffè, discoteche, bar gay, marinai e prostitute, anche se, a differenza di Burra, non dipinse gli aspetti sinistri delle scene.

Aveva una memoria quasi fotografica.

Sebbene ampiamente popolare e riconosciuta come uno degli artisti Britannici contemporanei più noti, Cook non ha mai goduto dell'accettazione da parte dell'establishment artistico.

Beryl Cook è morta il 28 maggio 2008 nella sua casa di Plymouth.