Cook, Beryl

▪ 2009

Beryl Frances Lansley 

      British artist

born Sept. 10, 1926, Egham, Surrey, Eng.

died May 28, 2008, Plymouth, Devon, Eng.

painted humorous scenes of plump people enjoying themselves in common social situations, such as shopping, drinking in bars, or dancing in clubs. Cook had no professional training and did not begin painting until she was in her 40s. After a friend persuaded her to allow him to sell some of her paintings, Cook's reputation grew. In 1975 she had her first exhibition at the Plymouth Arts Centre and was featured in The Sunday Times magazine. Her first London exhibition followed at the Portal Gallery in 1976. Cook earned widespread fame when she was featured in 1979 in an episode of the TV program The South Bank Show. She was made OBE in 1995; because she was intensely shy, however, she refused to travel to Buckingham Palace to accept the award in person. To honour the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002, Cook painted The Royal Couple, which was featured in the Golden Jubilee Exhibition. In 2004 BBC TV aired Bosom Pals, an animated series featuring popular characters from some of Cook's paintings. The Portal Gallery in London hosted (2006) an exhibition of Cook's work to honour her 80th birthday.

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