Larger than life

Very sad news - the wonderful artist Beryl Cook has died at the age of 81. Described by comic 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 fondly remembered Mr Harry's club.



Such a loss - who could ever replace Beryl Cook?

Beryl Cook obituary in The Times