Why wasn’t Beryl Cook treated as a serious artist?

Brooks says it was a privilege to be part of the exhibition: “I’ve lived most of my life in the south west and the communities I’ve been part of have been an enormous part of what keeps me painting and making things.”

“Probably, like a lot of people, it’s a complicated kind of relationship, and that tension can be very uncomfortable and very generative.”

Brooks credits Cook as part of their life and inspiration, external.

“Cook has always been there in my studio, in book and postcard and coaster form – that sounds trivial but it’s not, it’s my day to day. I look at her work a lot.

“I love the way she’s able to capture scenes of everyday life, external and moments you might well encounter in a day with real tenderness and wit.

“There’s such joy in how she describes situations and people and places, I love noticing the little details and seeing how she laboured over a person’s fringe or a table leg.”

Brooks says Cook tried to describe things as she wanted to, even though “sometimes it works beautifully and sometimes it’s a bit off”.

“There’s humility there, and I really respond to that,” Brooks adds.