Plymouth to host major Beryl Cook exhibition

4 September 2008

As the city where the late artist Beryl Cook lived for much of her career and which inspired many of her paintings, it is fitting that Plymouth will host a major retrospective exhibition of her work later this year.

Organised and hosted by Peninsula Arts, the cultural umbrella organisation of the University of Plymouth, the exhibition will run from Saturday 8 November until Saturday 20 December. It is the first major show of Beryl's work since her death in May this year and will feature more than 70 of her works, including many rarely seen pieces as well her best-known paintings.

The event has the enthusiastic support of Beryl's husband, John Cook, and friends, who have loaned the university some rarely seen works, including personal portraits and several three-dimensional pieces such as chairs Beryl painted and dolls she made.

The exhibition will be supplemented by a special book, Beryl Cook, 1926 - 2008, published by the University of Plymouth Press. The publication, edited by the university's Sarah Chapman, who is curating the exhibition, will catalogue the work on show and give a critical commentary and broad reassessment of Beryl's unique position in British popular culture. Contributors to the book include Bernard Samuels, who is credited with discovering Beryl in the 1970s when he was Director of the Plymouth Arts Centre, and who provides a unique insight into Plymouth's vibrant arts scene; author, poet and art critic Edward Lucie-Smith, and author Babs Horton, Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at the university, who reflects on Beryl's wide popularity and appeal.

Simon Ible, Director of Peninsula Arts, said: "We are delighted and honoured to bring this important exhibition to the public in the city that was Beryl’s home for 40 years. Most people are familiar with Beryl's larger-than-life depictions of men and women going about their daily lives, portrayed with her unmistakable humour and charm. Our exhibition celebrates that work and also reveals her more personal paintings, including family portraits. It is a celebration of her artistic achievement, which won her millions of fans around the world."

Jess Wilder, co-owner of London’s Portal Gallery, which has shown Beryl Cook's paintings almost exclusively for 30 years, said: "Beryl was one of the UK's best-loved and most successful contemporary artists. It is fitting that Plymouth, the city that was her home for so many years and inspired many of her paintings, should be hosting this major event."

The exhibition will be held in The Gallery in the university's award-winning Roland Levinsky Building. Anyone wanting more information about the exhibition or the accompanying book should contact Peninsula Arts at the University of Plymouth on 01752 585050 / email: pen_arts_enqs@plymouth.ac.uk

ENDS

For more information, contact the Press Office on 01752 588004.

Notes to editors

Members of the media are invited to attend the private view of the exhibition at the university on Friday 7 November at 6.30pm. The event will include a performance by internationally-renowned jazz musician Mike Westbrook, OBE, and talks by Jess Wilder and Bernard Samuels.

To arrange your attendance at the event, please contact the University of Plymouth PR team, on 01752 588004/email: publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk by Monday 27 October.

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Consistently ranked one of the top modern universities in the UK, Plymouth has a strong record of excellence, enterprise and innovation across its teaching and research activities and is distinguished by its long-term engagement with employers.

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