Beryl Cook, born in 1926 in Surrey, England, did not start painting until she reached her her forties. Since her brilliant debut, the former seaside landlady and her colourful world of large ladies, male strippers, drag acts, bars and night clubs have found admirers all over the world, Beryl has received the O.B.E. from the Queen and her paintings hang many public collections and in the private collections of Jackie Collins and Whoopie Goldberg. Beryl Cook is without doubt one of the most original painters working today.

Beryl Cook's work is particularly interesting when viewed in the context of the tradition of British social realist painting and she could easily be described as a contemporary Hogarth or Gilray, although she has a more sympathetic view of the human race. She is like those painters above all a social observer. She records human frailties and the absurdities of human behaviour with her own unique vision. Beryl's personality though is in great contrast to her paintings. She is a shy and private person, often depicting the flamboyant and extrovert characters she would love to be. She prefers to observe a crowd of people, her acute eye missing nothing. She records in minute detail scenes of everyday life and has an almost photographic memory.