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Rediscovered Local Art At Plymouth Auction Rooms
Never before seen artwork by two of Plymouth’ major artists are due to come up for auction in Plymouth next month. The work of Beryl Cook (1926-2008) is much loved and instantly recognisable. She drew inspiration from the many characters she came across in her everyday life, particularly in pubs and clubs. Around 1968 Beryl and her family moved from Cornwall to Plymouth and there she concentrated on her artworks as well as running her guest house on the Hoe. In 1975 she had her first exhibition at the Plymouth art centre. This was a great success and was featured in The Sunday Times. A gentleman now living in Devon spotted the exhibition, and he and his partner each purchased a painting and took it home on the back of their motorbike, After some 45 years he has now decided to part with the painting and has consigned it to auction.
The painting is titled family with a transistor radio or ‘Family with a Tranny’, it measures by 53cm x 36cm and depicts the family appearing to have a great time at the beach dressed in bathing costumes, sailors caps and with a red football; the transistor radio can also be seen. Painted on oil on board and clearly signed this is now expected to attract a lot of interest at the auction.
Auctioneer Paul Keen “we are delighted to handle the sale of this rare Beryl Cook painting. We have sold many printed editions of her work over the years but paintings rarely come up for sale and we’re expecting significant interest in this lot”.
Twenty years later a Plymouth gentleman visited the studios of Robert Lenkiewicz. Although unfinished at the time, he was able to secure the purchase of a wonderful painting titled ‘Study of Karen’. He has cherished the work ever since but has now decided to consign the painting to the dedicated Lenkiewicz Art Auction at Plymouth Auction Rooms. Measuring 107cm x 91cm, and painted in oil, it has been estimated at £12,000 to £15,000.
The auction will be held on the 24th March at 6pm. All the lots can be viewed online, and you’ll be able to have a virtual tour of the saleroom.
