Beryl Cook

I've always had a great fondness for the late Beryl Cooks paintings, which comically capture flamboyant folk going about their daily business.  

Babs & Barbara "Ooh wrap up well Babs - it's bitter out there!"

Buxom figures were her trademark; Victoria Wood described her as as "Rubens with jokes". As a shy and private person, apparently Beryl Cook shunned the limelight in favour of quietly sitting in bars, restaurants or any location with her husband, people watching; observations which would later be translated onto canvas! I imagine what her characters are saying...   

"Guiness is full of iron, you know...I drink it purely for medicinal reasons!"

I love the gorgeous "Chartiers" restaurant in Paris (I've dined here with my mum a few times!)

"Do you have them in a wider fitting, luv?"

"Tats in love!"

"Ooh she never, did she?!"

His n' Hers!

It's currently London Fashion week and there are some very intertesting characters walking around the city - obviously dashing from one show to the next. I spied this lady in Clerkenwell. I was attracted to her tattoos - a lady and a gentleman. I would have preferred them to be more colourful, but still found them quite quirky and cool!

"Lola, baby, come on!"

"Lola, baby" dawdling behind her master!

I often see this intimidating looking chap at lunch time on Exmouth market in Clerkenwell. He is a butch skinhead, with tattoos and usually wears sunglasses. He marches along with his 3 mini dogs in tow, who never seem to be in any rush and always seem to be more interested in what's going on behind them! It makes me smile to myself when I hear his booming voice gently calling out "Lola, baby, come on!"