An exhibition and sculpture trail celebrating one of the UK’s most famous artists is drawing visitors to the city she portrayed in her instantly recognisable paintings, say tourism bosses.
More than 90,000 people have already visited Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy at Plymouth’s The Box gallery, making it the highest attended exhibition since the venue opened in 2020.
Visitors are also being drawn to the city to follow a trail of sculptures based on the characters in Cook’s paintings, from a bowler on Plymouth Hoe to a couple eating fish and chips on the waterfront.
A walking tour of Beryl’s Plymouth led by comedian Suzy Bennett has sold out while an off-shoot exhibition is being extended to allow more people the chance to get a “Beryl fix”.
Terah Walkup from The Box said they expected the exhibition to hit a record-breaking 100,000 visitors [BBC]
Beryl Cook died in 2008, and the festivities have been staged to mark 100 years since she was born.
Amanda Lumley, chief executive of Destination Plymouth, said visitors were coming from across the UK and beyond. “It is giving a real boost to the hospitality, retail, and tourism economy,” she said.
Lumley said the “Beryl affect” was driving Plymouth’s reputation as a cultural destination.
“The partnership between culture and tourism is making Plymouth a place people want to visit and return to,” she said.
Plymouth hinted at the fun it was planning to create for Beryl’s centenary when a giant inflatable “icon” appeared on the Hoe in July 2025.
The character – based on the Beryl Cook painting Nude on a Leopard Skin – was carried across the city by a group of “strong people” before taking a skinny dip in the famous Tinside Lido.
Terah Walkup, curator of the Beryl Cook exhibition said it had already attracted more than 52,000 visitors and the gallery hoped to get close to 100,000 visitors before the exhibition closed at the end of May.
“That would be record-breaking for an exhibition like this. And obviously just a testament to the importance of Beryl,” said Walkup.
“We know that 45% of our visitors are coming from outside the region. They’re travelling from all around the UK. And I also know of several people who have visited from Europe and America who have travelled to Plymouth just for this exhibition.
“Some of those people are people for whom Beryl was a very influential and important person in their life. So people have been making the Plymouth pilgrimage for Beryl on her birthday.”
Walkup said Cook’s work was about celebrating Plymouth, its people and the everyday life she enjoyed in the city.
“It’s just really wonderful to continue that celebration 50 years after her very first exhibition and after her work really became known,” she said.
Sarah Gibson said people loved having their photograph taken with the larger than life sculptures [BBC]
Sarah Gibson, chief executive of Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, said the area was “really experiencing the Beryl Cook effect”.
“It’s incredible,” she said. “It’s so important that we celebrate our culture and you know Beryl Cook as an artist is absolutely part and parcel of this culture.
“We’re putting these statues out and people are really enjoying coming out and having a look at them.”
Gibson said selfie pictures taken with the statues were being shared far and wide on social media, putting the focus on Plymouth.
“When you see the statues, you can’t help but want to have your photograph taken with them and enjoy them. I think they bring out Beryl’s personality. They are colourful and vibrant and great fun.”
The Fish and Hips sculpture shows two people eating a rather realistic looking portion of fish and chips, while taking in the views from the Hoe.
“We’ve had some people actually try to take some of those chips. But it’s a bit of fun, it’s joyous and it’s adding colour and vibrancy to an already vibrant place,” Gibson said.
Where to find the sculptures
Visitors to Plymouth agreed the exhibition and sculpture trail had been drawing them to the city.
June and Dave Jones, who live in Bedford, said they were keen to see the Beryl exhibits during their recent visit and were taking photos with all the statues.
“We’ve always loved Beryl’s work,” said June who was enjoying an ice cream during her second time visiting the ” Hips and Chips” statue on Plymouth waterfront.
“We did the photograph bit yesterday with our granddaughter and the dog as well. Now we’re enjoying the sunshine and Plymouth. It’s lovely.”
June and Dave Jones wanted photos with all the Beryl statues [BBC]
Jeanette, from Saltash in Cornwall, said she had come into Plymouth specifically to find the Hips and Chips sculpture to complete her tour of the trail.
“We’ve found all the others, but we wanted to find this one and have a picture taken with it. I think they’re all brilliant. I like the one down on the Barbican but they’re all brilliant really. I’ve noticed several people going around looking for them, so it’s great for Plymouth.”
Beryl Cook: Pride & Joy is at The Box until May 31.
The Comedy Tours of Plymouth with Suzy Bennett are fully booked but organisers said they were hoping to add more dates.
People can also book an exclusive evening view of the exhibition, attend workshops to create Beryl-style pet portraits, be part of an audience with Beryl’s daughter-in-law Teresa and attend a gin and jazz night.
The Dear Beryl display in The Box’s Active Archives gallery has been extended until 21 June with the art curator giving talks on 3 and 10 June to extend the “Beryl fix” after the main Pride and Joy exhibition has closed.
Often dismissed by critics during her lifetime and always humble about the quality of her work, Beryl Cook would probably be stunned by the impact her work is having so long after her death.
But Walkup said Cook’s impact was multi-generational and set to endure.
“There have been people who’ve come to the exhibition who grew up with Beryl.
“But we’ve also welcomed so many younger people and younger generations who are coming to meet Beryl for the first time and seeing her with fresh eyes and and absolutely loving what they see.
“That just shows the importance of Beryl Cook.”
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