Prints

Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). Twins, original colour print, signed, titled and numbered 282/300 in Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). Tea in the Garden, pencil, image size 60.5 x 60.5 cm, sheet size 79 x 68 original colour print, signed and numbered cm (31 x 26 3/4 inches), mounted (1) 242/650, 42 x 39cm (16.5 x 15.25in), framed and £300-500 £440. glazed. (1) £250-350. £420. Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). Clubbing in the Rain, lithograph printed in colours, pub. Alexander Gallery, signed in pencil, and numbered 316/650, image size 50.5 x 36cm (20 x 14.25in), gilt frame, Beryl Cook prints fetch over glazed. (1) £400-600. Sold for £640. £6,000 hammer ‘I don’t know how my pictures happen, they just do. They exist, but for the life of me I can’t explain them.’

rare collection of sixteen signed Short Biography Alimited edition Beryl Cook prints 1926 Beryl Cook was born in . She went under the hammer at Dominic left school at fourteen, showing little Winter Auctioneers in Gloucestershire in talent in painting, then moved to London July. Her work has skyrocketed since her in 1943. death on 28th May 2008, aged 81 in 1946 Beryl married her childhood friend . After her death two of Beryl John, who was in the Merchant Navy. Cook’s original paintings sold at auction 1950 Their son John was born and the for £66,000 and £69,600, the most ever following year they left to live in paid for her artwork. Southern Rhodesia. This move was to Nathan Winter from Dominic Winter prove a turning point for Beryl. One day Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). Lingerie Shop, original auctioneers said: “Since Beryl Cook died, she picked up some paints belonging to colour print, signed and numbered 92/650 in pencil, image size 46 x 41cm (18 x 16in), framed and her work has definitely become more her son and started a picture. She enjoyed glazed. (1) £250-350. £260. valuable. Prior to her death, her signed it so much she could not stop. She painted prints mainly sold at auction for between on any surface she could find, scraps of £200 and £300. But since she passed wood, fire screens and most notably a away they have been selling for up to breadboard, as can be seen from her £700. Her work is likely to gain in value famous early painting of Bowling Ladies. similarly over the next several years.” 1963 The Cooks returned to to Former showgirl Beryl Cook found live in where Beryl began to fame with her humorous depictions of paint in earnest. They moved to larger-than-life West Country folk at play. Plymouth, where in the summer months After moving to Bristol with her husband they ran a busy theatrical boarding house. in 1998 to be closer to their grand- Bernard Samuels of the Plymouth Art daughter and great-grandchildren, Beryl Centre became aware of this ‘local started painting the colourful Bristolians phenomenon’ and in 1975 he finally she quietly observed drinking in local convinced her to have an exhibition. It pubs and enjoying raucous nights out. was, of course an enormous success. Critics may have sneered at her work. Beryl Cook’s amusing contribution to Brian Sewell famously dismissed it as the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, ‘The Royal ‘vulgar’, but the public has always loved Couple’ featured in the Golden Jubilee Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). Bird in the Hand, its warmth and good cheer, flocking to Exhibition, May 2002, at Art London, original colour print, signed and numbered 34/60, her exhibitions and clamouring to buy her Chelsea. marked artist's proof, image size 53.5 x 65cm (21 x 15.5in), sheet size 82 x 60.5cm (32.25 x 23.75in), paintings. 1995 Beryl was made an OBE. mounted. (1) £300-500. £360. All hammer prices. Courtesy of www.berylcook.org ANTIQUES INFO - November/December 10 Prints

Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). Line Dancing, colour print, signed, titled, and numbered 57/395, image size 45.7 x 69.8 cm (18 x 27.5 ins), sheet size 65 x 89 cm (25.5 x 35 ins), mounted. (1) £300-500. £280. Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). A Full House, original colour print, signed and numbered 90/650 in pencil, image size 40.5 x 45.5cm (16 x 17.875in), mounted. (1) £250-350. £420. Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). Girls Night Out, original colour print, signed, titled and numbered 217/350 in pencil, image size 60.5 x 55cm (23.75 x 21.625in), framed and glazed. (1) £300-400. £360.

Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). In the Snug, original colour print, titled and numbered 262/650, image size 40.5 x 43cm (16 x 17in), mounted. (1) £250- 350. £480.

Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). Nathan or Adam & Eve, original colour print, signed and numbered 10/60 in pencil, marked artists proof, image size 81 x 64cm Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). Dining in Paris, original (32 x 25.25in), sheet size 92 x 70cm (36 x 27.5in), colour print, signed and numbered 557/650, image mounted. (1) £300-500. £380. size 45.5 x 41cm (17.875 x 16.125in), framed and glazed. (1) £250-350. £230.

Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). Sabotage, original colour print, signed, titled and numbered 78/595 in pencil, image size 31 x 31cm (12 x 12in), mounted. (1) £300-400. £480.

Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). Lady of Marseilles, Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). Tango Busking, original Cook (Beryl, 1926-2008). The Birthday Cake, original colour print, signed titled and numbered colour print, signed, titled and numbered 146/395, original colour print, signed and numbered 134/395 in pencil, image size 51 x 43.5cm (20 x image 48 x 49 cm (19 x 19 1/4 inches), framed and 274/650, image size 50.5 x 37cm (19.875 x 17.125in), framed and glazed. (1) £300-500. £500. glazed. (1) £300-400. £400. 14.5in), mounted. (1) £250-350. £270. ANTIQUES INFO - November/December 10