Beryl Cook

Beryl Cook, OBE was a British painter. 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 work often depicted flamboyant and extrovert characters very different from herself. Although widely popular and recognised as one of the best-known contemporary British artists, Cook was never accepted by the art establishment.