The Box: Beryl Cook's Peep Show

 This exhibition finished on the 11th January 2026

Beryl Cook was familiar to me from an early age, she was a favourite of my mothers and other family friends.  I remember one lady had cuttings, postcards and prints of any Beryl Cook paintings she came across in her downstairs toilet.  It was endlessly fascinating to me.  

This exhibition was a rather small taster, a teaser, for the larger exhibition soon to open in St Luke's at the Box.  It featured a number of small displays that included artworks, copies of adverts, leaflets and other material that featured her art.  It was a lovely introduction to her works and an opportunity to see some I had not seen before.  There were maybe five different windows and then also a interview with Beryl was also being shown.

I enjoyed the interview and liked Beryl very much.  She came across as a typical middle class British housewife in many ways but yet she had both a naughty streak and a keen interest in people.  I am not saying that she herself was naughty, necessarily, more that she appreciated that in others and often found it humorous.  She didn't laugh at people though, but with them, she found the good and elevated people.  In doing so, she represented diverse groups, not often seen in art.  People saw themselves in her art.

Her art is a window in a time and a place and provides a valuable window.  Although she was deemed to be one of the country's most popular artists, she was not always appreciated by art critics at the time.  This new exhibition celebrates 100 years from her birth and 50 years since the Sunday Times feature that launched her career. I am looking forward to Pride and Joy, which will feature over 80 objects, but Peep Show was a lovely taste of what's to come.

While Peep Show has now finished, Pride and JOy starts on the 24th January.  Although it is free, it is expected to be busy and it is recommended that you book a ticket in advance to ensure you can see the exhibition.

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