A major retrospective exhibition in Plymouth, the adopted city of renowned British artist Beryl Cook, aims to reframe the perception of her work as more than mere whimsy. The “Pride and Joy” show, opening at The Box on 24 January 2026, presents Cook as a skilled chronicler of social transformation, capturing the vibrancy and diversity of working-class communities.
Curator Terah Walkup emphasises that Cook’s paintings were not caricatures but honest, affectionate depictions of marginalised identities. “She was documenting communities and identities that were actively marginalised with affection, mastery and honesty,” Walkup explains. The exhibition showcases over 80 paintings, along with sculptures, textiles and personal archives, highlighting Cook’s ability to celebrate her subjects and their unapologetic occupation of space.
One notable work, the 1972 painting “Bar Girl”, features two women enjoying pints of beer – a defiant statement in an era when some pubs still refused to serve unaccompanied women. “She’s not making fun of her subjects at all – she’s painting people occupying spaces unapologetically,” says Walkup.
The retrospective, timed to coincide with the centenary of Cook’s birth and Plymouth’s bid to become the UK City of Culture, aims to cement the artist’s legacy as a significant figure in British art. Julian Spalding, a writer and former museum director, praises Cook as “one of the glories of British painting, a modern William Hogarth and Thomas Rowlandson rolled into one.”
Jemima Laing, the deputy leader of Plymouth City Council, emphasises Cook’s enduring impact on the city, stating that “for over 40 years she painted our sailors, our shoppers, our pubs, our people, always with warmth, humour and genuine affection.” The council plans to erect larger-than-life sculptures of some of Cook’s iconic characters across the city, a “love letter to an artist who never stopped celebrating us.”
As the “Pride and Joy” exhibition opens, it serves as a timely celebration of Beryl Cook’s unapologetic vision and her lasting influence on British art and culture.