Beryl Cook, Birthday Surprises, 1989

“Grandma's railcard has certainly enabled her to give a very big surprise indeed to the happy family. I really enjoyed doing this painting for British Rail, since I have one of these cards myself, and the suggestion that she should emerge from a cake appealed to me enormously. The grandmothers I know are very trendy these days and buy their clothes, like me, in the teenage departments. It's not easy to squeeze the mature figure into a tiny teenage size, I can tell you. But this particular granny is wearing a comfortable green two-piece with shoes to match, designed by me as suitable gear for the fun-loving older woman - travelling by cake.”

Beryl Cook, Bar and Barbara, 1984

“The Algonquin was opposite our hotel on 44th Street and each time we passed it I mingled with the people going in and out, hoping to hear some witty conversation…I was discussing this with these two friends, who were talking about their forthcoming trip to New York, and I grew more and more excited as they described the fur coats they'd be wearing and the parts of Manhattan they would be visiting. So much so that I transposed them to this location, one in Persian lamb and one in sable, before they had even left these shores.”

Beryl Cook, Buster, 1987

“Near the Grapes in Shepherd Market, Buster, a tiny fat dog in a large jewelled collar, appeared, followed by his owner and a friend. He was most appealing and quite accustomed to being petted and admired. But things suddenly turned ugly and he snarled and growled with all his teeth bared when the time came for his lead to be attached. Fortunately the friend found a chocolate (from Fortnum & Mason, I hope), and after a certain amount of wrestling all three trotted off.”

Beryl Cook, Madam Jo Jos, 1987

“We passed the Bed Show on our way to Madam Jo-Jo's, a dear little theatre reached down a long flight of stairs. We sat in the balcony and watched the floor show beneath us. To our great pleasure we discovered that Brian, an old friend from Plymouth, was appearing there. Here he is, dressed as a bumblebee and singing to some suitably attired 'flowers'.”

Beryl Cook, Rhubarb, 1984 

“There's a nice big patch of corrosion here for me to paint, the corrugated iron shed on the allotments. Not that the rust alone attracted me, it was also the contented people I saw tending their plants each time I looked over the fence. And what fine plants they were growing - huge cabbages, lettuces, runner beans, well-protected soft fruit, even flowers… All the cabbages were painted from a big one I bought in the market.”

Beryl Cook, Sweeping in the Rain, 1996

“The bright yellow outfits must be the attraction for me as I've done several paintings of road-sweepers and work-men. This one was painted for a charity some years ago, and I remember following these men around as they busily swept the pavements. They were wearing hats as it was pouring with rain, which I haven't managed to depict, but the gutter is rather good, isn't it?”