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| Painter Beryl Cook dies aged 81 | Painter Beryl Cook dies aged 81 |
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| Artist Beryl Cook, known for her colourful and comic paintings of larger-than-life ladies, has died at the age of 81. | Artist Beryl Cook, known for her colourful and comic paintings of larger-than-life ladies, has died at the age of 81. |
| She died peacefully at her home in Plymouth on Wednesday with her husband and family at her side. | She died peacefully at her home in Plymouth on Wednesday with her husband and family at her side. |
| Cook had no formal training and did not take up painting until her 40s, but her work went on to become hugely popular. | Cook had no formal training and did not take up painting until her 40s, but her work went on to become hugely popular. |
| An exhibition celebrating Cook's 80th birthday was held at the Portal Gallery in London in October 2006. | An exhibition celebrating Cook's 80th birthday was held at the Portal Gallery in London in October 2006. |
| Jess Wilder, co-owner of the Portal Gallery, said: "It's very sad indeed. She was painting until very recently. We had a marvellous 80th birthday party here." | Jess Wilder, co-owner of the Portal Gallery, said: "It's very sad indeed. She was painting until very recently. We had a marvellous 80th birthday party here." |
| Inspiration | Inspiration |
| Cook's paintings document familiar social situations like girls on a hen night, in a nightclub or shopping, men in the pub, at a strip club or at the market. | |
| The artist, who was previously described by comic Victoria Wood as "Rubens with jokes", once said: "I don't know how my pictures happen, they just do. | |
| "They exist, but for the life of me I can't explain them." | "They exist, but for the life of me I can't explain them." |
| Cook was born in Surrey in 1926, but had lived in Plymouth for over 25 years. | Cook was born in Surrey in 1926, but had lived in Plymouth for over 25 years. |
| The large, fun-loving characters featured in her work were largely inspired by people in the city's pubs. | The large, fun-loving characters featured in her work were largely inspired by people in the city's pubs. |
| And it was in Plymouth where her talent was first noted. | And it was in Plymouth where her talent was first noted. |
| Cook and her husband, John, ran a guest house when they moved to Plymouth in the 1960s. | Cook and her husband, John, ran a guest house when they moved to Plymouth in the 1960s. |
| People staying at the house started talking about the paintings on display and an antique dealer friend persuaded her to let him try and sell some. | People staying at the house started talking about the paintings on display and an antique dealer friend persuaded her to let him try and sell some. |
| They sold quickly and she went on to hold her first exhibition in 1975. | They sold quickly and she went on to hold her first exhibition in 1975. |
| Despite being largely snubbed by the art establishment, Cook's work became well-loved by the general public following a South Bank Show about her in 1979. | Despite being largely snubbed by the art establishment, Cook's work became well-loved by the general public following a South Bank Show about her in 1979. |
| In January 2004 her characters starred in a two-part animated TV series, called Bosom Pals, made for the BBC. | In January 2004 her characters starred in a two-part animated TV series, called Bosom Pals, made for the BBC. |