‘Ordinary people enjoying themselves’: Beryl Cook exhibition to open in Plymouth

Exclusive: Show at The Box in artist’s home town spans entire career and includes previously unseen works

She was a seaside landlady who left school at 14 and who, without any formal training, became one of Britain’s most popular artists. Now, 17 years after Beryl Cook’s death, her home city of Plymouth will this week announce a major exhibition that will include previously unseen works as well as much-loved humorous paintings with larger-than-life characters.

Cook was chronically shy and avoided her exhibition openings – and would probably have stayed away from the show at The Box from January 2026.