Life-size Beryl Cook sculptures appear around city

11 hours ago

Amy HeyDevon

News image — The sculptures are described as Plymouth's way of saying thank you to an artist who "never stopped celebrating us"

Wayne Perry/The Box Five men in high viz orange jackets, carrying one of Beryl Cooks sculptures out of a van. The sculpture is of 'Dancing Tom'. — The sculptures are described as Plymouth's way of saying thank you to an artist who "never stopped celebrating us"

A dancer, sailor, shopper and bowls player have popped up around Plymouth as a series of sculptures pay hommage to artist Beryl Cook.

To celebrate the Plymouth artist's centenary year, the four life-size statues have been placed in some of the locations said to have inspired her most famous works.

Created by the set building department at Theatre Royal Plymouth's TR2, the pieces are described as "visualisations of Cook's artistic flare" and have been launched to coincide with a new exhibition of Cook's work at The Box.

Seb Soper, head of project development at TR2 said: "Full of humour, these cheeky statues are sculptures you'd want to have a selfie with."

Beryl Cook sculpture 'scandal', woman stood wearing a bowls uniform and a hat with her right arm extended and poking something, left arm behind her back and leaning slightly forward. Bowling green is behind her and a fence between the two.

Beryl Cook sculpture of a sailor sat on a bench in the barbican outside of a pub. The sailor is wearing a navy uniform and a white and blue hat with his arms crossed. Blue wall in the background, with pebbled street to the right.

The Jolly Sailor sculpture has taken up residence on a bench outside The Dolphin Pub in The Barbican and The Cheerful Shopper can be found outside Plymouth Market.

The Bowls Player has been placed next to the Hoe public bowling green and Ruby Venezuela stands near the former Lockyer Tavern.

Sophie Howe, Cook's granddaughter, said: "Beryl loved Plymouth and Plymouth loved her back.

"Seeing her characters come to life in the actual places she painted them – The Hoe, the pubs, the market – would have absolutely delighted her."

Jemima Laing, deputy leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "These sculptures are Plymouth's way of saying thank you to an artist who never stopped celebrating us."

The exhibition Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy is at The Box in Plymouth until 31 May.