The art world looked down its nose at Beryl Cook, however there’s something endearing about her paintings of depicting some of the colourful characters she encountered her adopted hometown of Plymouth. The very larger-than-life characters emphasised.

If the artworld was arrogant, the public was enthusiastic with her paintings reaching around £40,000. In addition, for populist art there’s much to commend Cook’s work unlike the S&M soft porn of Jack Vettriano or the obscene chocolate box style of Thomas Kinkade. No, I rather like the Cook’s bright colours and larger than life characters that celebrate, our albeit, unusual everyday lives. Although, that said, I wouldn’t hang her pictures on my walls nor would I bother to visit an exhibition of her paintings.