18 Facts About Beryl Cook

Beryl Cook, OBE was a British painter best known for her original and instantly recognisable paintings.

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

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

Since her death in 2008, Beryl's son John and granddaughter Sophie have run the official Beryl Cook website providing a look into her life.

Beryl Cook Francis Lansley was born in Egham, Surrey, as one of four sisters.

Beryl Cook attended Kendrick School there, but left education at fourteen and started to work in a variety of jobs.

In 1948, she married her childhood friend John Beryl Cook, who was in the merchant navy.

The family returned to England in the mid-sixties and moved to East Looe, Cornwall in 1965, where Beryl Cook focused more on her painting.

Beryl Cook shared her time between running the guest house and producing ever more paintings.

Beryl Cook was given national coverage in the Sunday Times.

Beryl Cook soon became, in the estimation of Julian Spalding, the most genuinely popular living artist in Britain.

Beryl Cook enjoyed growing popularity and her paintings soon were in great demand.

Beryl Cook collaborated with such authors as Edward Lucie-Smith and Nanette Newman by providing illustrations for their books.

Beryl Cook continued regularly to publish books of her own artworks until the early 2000s, such as Beryl Cook's New York which had been inspired by her three week visit to New York City in 1983.

Beryl Cook did not attend the official ceremony due to her shyness, and accepted the honour at a quieter ceremony in Plymouth the following year.

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

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.

Beryl Cook's work has been compared to that of Colombian artist Fernando Botero.