It's the centenary today of the birth of that most beloved of British artists, the wonderful, quirky and humorous Beryl Cook!
Described by Victoria Wood as "Rubens with jokes", Beryl Cook's work was just so instantly recognisable that it is no wonder that the public took to her work in such a big way - whether in greetings cards, calendars or prints. Vulgar, always larger-than-life, and uplifting, Beryl's fat and jolly characters are very British - like a smutty seaside postcard, or a Hattie Jacques innuendo in a Carry On film.
The big, fun-loving characters featured in her work were largely inspired by
people in Plymouth's pubs, including the long-gone gay pub the
Lockyer Tavern
[haunt of the youthful
Madam Arcati]. In fact, Beryl was a well-known and admired character on the gay scene in
the city over the decades, often popping up in the back bar of
The Swallow or in the locally fondly-remembered
Mr Harry's nightclub.
There was nobody quite like Beryl! Beryl Cook (10th September 1926 – 28th May 2008)
