Barrie Cook

Barrie Cook (1931–2020) was a British painter whose career spanned teaching, exhibition and an enduring fascination with landscape and colour.

After graduating from Birmingham College of Art in 1954, Cook taught at Bournville Boys Technical School and art colleges in Coventry and Stourbridge, later becoming Head of Fine Art. He went on to become Head of Fine Art at Birmingham Polytechnic in 1979 and received a Gregynog Arts Fellowship in 1977. His work was exhibited extensively, including notable London exhibitions at the Whitechapel Gallery in 1975, curated by Bryan Robertson, and the Serpentine Gallery in 1988.

In 1992, Cook and his wife Mary moved to Cornwall, settling on the Lizard Peninsula after encouragement from their close friend Terry Frost. Cornwall had held a fascination for Cook since childhood, and the dramatic cliffs, sea and light profoundly influenced his work. His palette evolved from darker industrial tones towards a more vibrant and expressive use of colour.

His first solo exhibition in Cornwall was held at Newlyn Art Gallery in 1998, followed by exhibitions at Tate St Ives. Cook described Cornwall as his “spiritual home”, finding both artistic freedom and a strong sense of community there.

He continued to exhibit widely until his death in 2020, working from a converted Methodist chapel at Ruan Minor. Independent in spirit and resistant to the conventions of the London art world, Cook remained committed to developing his own distinctive approach to painting.