Background Information about Barry Cook
From Henley on Thames Lives and works in Todmorden 1977 BA Hons Fine Art – Stourbridge College of Art |
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Barry is a contemporary artist living in Todmorden, West Yorkshire for the past 40 years
where he has his studio.
Using watercolours, inks, gouache and pencil, Barry produces bright, imaginative, theatrical contemporary paintings, inspired by nature, music, folklore and stories. He uses a variety of symbols and animal images to represent characters and ideas in his paintings.”
Over 300 of his works are currently in many private collections throughout the UK and abroad.
Barry also produces photography, and 3D works in clay and mixed media materials.
'I attended Art College in the 1970s. I started working in my present style in 1990, exhibiting work from 1995 onwards. I now have more than 300 paintings in private collections.
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Many different artists influence my work – Outsider Art, the COBRA art group, David Jones, Ken Kiff, Alan Davie, Stanley Spencer, John Piper, Mary Fedden, Shani Rhys James, Dieter Roth, David Shrigley, Cornelia Parker.....
Nature, Music and Literature are three big influences. Birds such as Nightjars and insects such as Mayflies and Earwigs frequently feature in my paintings. With a wide range of music influencing my ideas, anything from opera to the Manic Street Preachers and Iggy Pop can inspire new storylines in my work. In literature, novels especially those of George Orwell, Charles Dickens and Rose Tremain give me new ideas for art. Inspirations for my recent works include entomology, tree life, King Charles 2nd, Saint James, the Brontes and Victorian industrial philanthropy.' BC
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Barry Cook
Siren Rising -White 71
$845,60