Beryl mania comes to Plymouth

A colourful citywide celebration kicks off this January as Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy opens at the award‑winning museum, The Box Plymouth. As Plymouth honours one of its most beloved artists, expect a flurry of Beryl‑themed events, exhibitions, and installations popping up across the city over the coming months.

The Exhibition

The highly anticipated Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy exhibition opens on Saturday 24 January and runs until Sunday 31 May. This landmark showcase features more than 80 of Beryl’s iconic works, from timeless crowd favourites to rarely seen gems loaned from private collectors and the Cook family archive.

Spread across four immersive sections — Identity and Representation, Chronicles of Everyday Life, Process and Practice (featuring sculptures and textiles), and Influences and Impact — the exhibition celebrates the humour, warmth, and humanity that define Cook’s art. Visitors can also explore a fascinating complementary display in The Box’s Active Archives Gallery, revealing deeper insights into her creative journey.

Beloved for her vivid depictions of everyday people, Cook’s work shines a loving light on Britain’s social life between the 1970s and 2000s. From drag queens and bingo halls to pub scenes and seaside fun, her distinctive storytelling captures working‑class joy, body positivity, and queer culture with empathy and flair — themes that feel just as relevant today.

Tickets

Entry to The Box and this exhibition is completely free, but due to high demand, a ticketing system is in place to ensure everyone enjoys the exhibition comfortably.

You can reserve your free timed tickets via The Box’s website or pick them up onsite. Walk-ins are welcome, though booking is recommended on weekends. From 17 February, tickets also include entry to the complementary exhibition, Journeys with Mai.

Get Creative: Paint Beryl-Style

Fancy stepping into Beryl’s shoes for a day? Join The Box’s Super Saturday: Pet Portraits Beryl‑Style workshop on Saturday 7 February, led by student artist Fatima Al Duhaim. Inspired by Beryl’s playful flair for the ordinary, participants will learn to paint “chonky” cats and characterful canines in true Cook style. The workshop runs from 10.15am–12pm and costs £20 per person.

Beryl-Inspired Statues Across Plymouth

Throughout the exhibition’s run, keep an eye out for four life‑size Beryl Cook‑inspired statues dotted throughout Plymouth, turning the city itself into a living gallery.

• Sailors and Seagulls (c.1970) – Grab a selfie with one of Beryl’s cheerful sailors outside The Dolphin Inn on the Barbican.

• Plymouth Market (1978) – Spot a bowler‑hatted shopper inside Plymouth Market, a tribute to Cook’s love of everyday hustle and bustle.

• Sabotage (1975) – Find the bowls player poised for action at the Peace Garden on The Hoe.

• Tom Dancing (1976) – Discover Ruby Venezuela (aka Brian Pearce) on Old George Street, near the former Lockyer Tavern, in a joyful nod to Plymouth’s LGBTQ+ history.

For an extra dash of fun, Plymouth comedian Suzy Bennett is leading a Beryl‑themed walking tour, blending comedy, culture, and Cook’s unique connection to the city’s people and places.

Discord & Harmony at KARST

Meanwhile, Discord & Harmony at KARST offers a fresh take on Beryl’s enduring legacy. Showcasing contemporary British artists, the exhibition explores community, individuality, body image, and queer visibility through painting, sculpture, and video — echoing Cook’s life‑affirming vision of ordinary joys.

Beryl Cook Merchandise

Don’t leave empty‑handed! Browse a range of Beryl Cook‑themed gifts, including a beautifully illustrated book, prints, and other exclusive keepsakes, available from The Box Shop.

Plan Your Visit

Entry to The Box and all exhibitions is free, and the museum is open 10am–5pm, Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holidays. Accessibility is excellent, with step‑free access, lifts, hearing loops, and accessible restrooms.

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In partnership with GWR, Destination Plymouth’s lead travel partner.