Hull's Heritage Service appeals for Beryl Cook-style photos

Following in the trail of the Hockney, Leonardo Da Vinci and Andy Warhol exhibitions at the Ferens Art Gallery the Heritage Service in Hull City Council has managed to pull off another artistic coup.  This time it is a little less intellectual but with more laughs over the road at the Maritime Museum.  They have secured the exclusive loan of over 30 paintings by the exceedingly popular artist Beryl Cook. 

These works are all in private ownership and very rarely seen in public.    Known by many for her fun depictions of well-rounded ordinary folk having a good time Beryl Cook’s paintings never fail to raise a smile. 

The exhibition Working Hard, Playing Hard: The paintings of Beryl Cook will be created by the Heritage Service and not shown anywhere else in the country.  It will celebrate ordinary people’s leisure time, as well as celebrating the leisure time of hard working communities in Hull. 

"This is your chance to be in the exhibition too!" says Robin Diaper, Curator of Maritime & Social History.  "In the run up to the exhibition we’d like people in Hull and the region to send in photographs of themselves enjoying their leisure time, this could include sport, music, a night out, a quiet game of scrabble, motorbikes or ballet."

The pictures could have been taken 50 years ago or yesterday.  A selection of the best will be shown alongside archive generously provided by the Hull Daily Mail as part of a slide show in the exhibition. 

Only digital images will be accepted.  Please email your images to museumevents@hullcc.gov.uk or visit the Hull Museums Facebook page.  People can submit images until 3 March.

Robin Diaper, Curator of Maritime & Social History said:
“Our number one aim with this exhibition is to put a smile on people’s faces.
“The paintings show ordinary people enjoying themselves, and I hope lots of people submit photos of themselves enjoying their leisure time, to be included in the exhibition.”

The Beryl Cook exhibition will be displayed at Hull Maritime Museums, Queen Victoria Square, from Saturday 5 April until Sunday 8 June. Entry to the exhibition will be free, as with all of Hull’s museums and gallery.

ENDS

For further media information, please contact:

Robin Diaper
Curator of Maritime & Social History, Hull Museums,
Tel: 01482 616435

Jay Commins

PR Officer - Joining Up the Humber Museums

Tel: 01904 500698

Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk