Exhibition acclaims Beryl Cook, pride of Plymouth

In her lifetime, Beryl Cook's colourful, vibrant paintings tended to be dismissed by critics as mere kitsch or whimsy. But a major retrospective of Cook's work makes the case that she was a serious, significant artist who skilfully chronicled a tumultuous period of social transformation.

- Steven Morris

"This is absolutely a moment for Beryl Cook," said Terah Walkup, the curator at the Box museum and gallery in Cook's adopted home of Plymouth. "It's so exciting - the place is awash with colour." Like many of the staff preparing for the opening of the Pride and Joy exhibition on Saturday, Walkup was wearing an item of leopard-print clothing a nod to one of Cook's favourite motifs.

"Beryl Cook wasn't painting caricatures. She was documenting communities and identities that were actively marginalised with affection, mastery and honesty," Walkup added. "Her work from the 1970s to 2000s captures working-class joy, body positivity, and queer culture." The exhibition marks the centenary of Cook's birth and 50 years since a Sunday Times feature launched her into the public consciousness following her first exhibition at an arts centre in Plymouth.

It also coincides with the Devon city - better known for its naval history than its art - bidding to become the next UK city of culture in 2029.