Hilary Bracegirdle on Beryl Cook

Discover the real Beryl Cook through a wealth of newly unearthed material that brings fresh insight to one of Britain's most beloved artists.Beryl Cook (1926-2008) was renowned for her exuberant paintings yet she remained a famously private figure.

Now, thanks to unprecedented access to a recently rediscovered family archive, a fuller picture of Beryl emerges.This illustrated volume shares images many of which have never been published before.

Thousands of letters, photographs and personal papers found in the attic reveal the networks of friends, family, business partners and creative collaborators who shaped her career.

Correspondence with figures such as photographer Barbara Ker-Seymer, art critic Edward Lucie-Smith and drag artist Ruby Venezuela captures the lively, witty world she inhabited, while hundreds of fan letters show how deeply her work resonated with those who felt unseen, from middle-aged women to LGBTQ+ and working-class communities.Alongside this treasure trove of material, the book offers new insight into Beryl's methods and inspiration, shedding light on the private technique behind her unmistakable style.

We meet her family and pets and follow her through the Plymouth and Bristol streets she adored.Published at a moment of renewed interest in her art, this biography forms part of an overdue reassessment that places Beryl beyond the limiting label of 'naive', acknowledging both her skill and her deep empathy for those she depicted.This book offers the most vivid and intimate picture yet of a singular artist, carrying with it a large amount of leopard print and dollops of saucy humour.