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TRIBUTES TO BERYL, 81, WHO PAINTED FOR THE FUN OF IT

Beryl Cook: Painted ample women having fun

Thursday May 29,2008

By Jo Willey

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BERYL Cook, the much-loved painter of larger-than-life ladies having a rollicking good time, died yesterday aged 81.

She passed away peacefully at home, with her only son and her husband, both called John.

Beryl – once described by comedienne Victoria Wood as “Rubens with jokes” – had no formal training as an artist and did not take up painting until she was in her 40s.

She was often shunned by art world elitists, but the public adored her irreverent yet affectionate depictions of over-sized women – and a few men – drinking, shopping, partying and generally having a knees up.

Jess Wilder, co-owner of the gallery which displayed her work exclusively for more than 30 years, said last night: “Despite her colourful pictures, Beryl was actually quite a shy and retiring lady.

She was a remarkable lady who leaves a wonderful legacy

Jess Wilder

“She was an observer, not a participator and I think the people in her paintings were the people she wished she was.

“She was never cruel to people and always had time for anyone.

“She was a remarkable lady who leaves a wonderful legacy.”

Beryl retired several years ago with arthritis and failing sight. She still painted for pleasure and her older canvases could sell for up to £40,000.

In an interview earlier this year she said: “I don’t like doing backgrounds but I love painting people – and I love painting them when they are enjoying themselves.

“That’s my greatest inspiration. I can’t do that myself. I’d really like to be the one singing and dancing while everybody was sitting admiring me, but I can’t do it.

“But my contribution to it all, to the fun, is my paintings.”

Speaking from her home near the Hoe, in Plymouth, Devon, yesterday her son John, 58, said: “We’re all very upset about Mum. We do not wish to make any comment because we are all still coming to terms with it.

“She was a lovely lady and an amazingly popular one. We know many people will be sad about her passing.”

Beryl also leaves two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and was awarded an OBE in 1995.

She was born in Surrey, but she and her husband, a merchant seaman, lived in London before opening their Devon guest house in the Sixties.

Her B&B guests loved her paintings and an antique dealer friend persuaded her to let him sell some, leading to her first exhibition in 1975.

In 2004 her characters starred in a BBC two-parter called Bosom Pals.