A century after her birth, the vibrant legacy of artist Beryl Cook is being celebrated in a retrospective exhibition held in her beloved city of Plymouth. Titled "Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy," this event at The Box seeks to elevate the recognition of an artist whose lively and humorous depictions of everyday life in Plymouth were often overlooked by critics.
This complimentary exhibition follows recent international showcases in New York and Los Angeles, intending to honor Cook's deep affection for the city where she resided for four decades. By highlighting her role as a chronicler of the working class, LGBTQ+ communities, and the city's nightlife, the exhibition aims to recontextualize her work.
As a self-taught artist, Cook created around 500 artworks during her lifetime from 1926 to 2008, achieving commercial success along the way. She garnered fan letters from across the globe, some of which are featured in the exhibition. Her art often celebrated plus-size figures, portraying joyful drag queens, women, sailors, and elderly ladies enjoying their nights out, engaging in activities such as shopping, playing cards, or participating in bingo games.
In a 1985 BBC South West documentary titled Union Street, Cook shared her perspective, saying, "To be able to paint, I really need to see everything that's going on." She expressed her love for the camaraderie among groups of girls and boys, reminiscing with a laugh, beer in hand, about her dream of having an apartment above Kentucky Fried Chicken, just so she could sit by the window and observe the bustling life below.
The Box has referred to Cook as a "cultural chronicler," emphasizing her ability to capture the lives of marginalized individuals with joy, kindness, and respect. Terah Walkup, the exhibition curator, stated, "She did it with genuine affection, technical mastery, and unflinching honesty. Her work from the 1970s to 2000s captures working-class joy, body positivity, and queer culture with a sophistication that is only now beginning to receive the recognition it deserves."
The exhibition features approximately 80 of Cook’s paintings, alongside small sculptures, textiles, and a personal archive that includes photographs, sketches, and letters. Theresa Cook, the artist's daughter-in-law, noted, "More artists volunteered their paintings for the exhibition than we had space for. Some of the works are ones we've never seen before." She added, "Beryl often missed her paintings after they were sold; she would have adored seeing them all together at The Box."
To further engage the public, life-size sculptures inspired by her artwork are being installed around Plymouth, crafted by the Theatre Royal’s set building team at TR2. These sculptures will be strategically placed in four locations that inspired Cook’s pieces, inviting interaction from the public, which aligns with Cook’s playful artistic spirit. Seb Soper, head of project development at TR2, remarked, "One of our collective ideas was that these sculptures would encourage people to take selfies with them."
Among the exhibition highlights is a painting titled "Sailors and Seagulls," which depicts a cheerful group of sailors in their blue uniforms and white caps crowded onto a bench, with seagulls perched nearby. This particular sailor will find a home outside The Dolphin pub on Southside Street in The Barbican.
The initiative for this exhibition came from Cook's granddaughter, Sophie Howe, who suggested to The Box that it was a fitting tribute, marking a hundred years since Cook's birth. "It’s the ideal time to do this," she said, adding that the sculpture trail serves as a perfect homage to Beryl during her centenary year. "She cherished Plymouth, and Plymouth cherished her back. Witnessing her characters come to life in the actual places she painted—like The Hoe, local pubs, and the market—would have truly delighted her."
"Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy" will be on display at The Box in Plymouth from January 24 until May 31. Although entry is free, visitors are encouraged to reserve a ticket to secure a specific time slot.
