Shopping With Robin, 2000

Beryl Cook frequently captured the vibrant, humorous energy of everyday shopping in her iconic British paintings. Cook often visited shopping centres, markets, carboot sales and luxury department stores. As a keen observer of people and their environments, they served as rich inspiration throughout her career. Executed in 2000, ‘Shopping with Robin’ is an important example of Cook’s depictions of public life and a celebration of everyday people. Always with a keen eye for detail, the painting is rich in elements documenting turn-of-the-century fashion, including a Rizzo the Rat backpack, a popular character from The Muppet Show. The painting was originally exhibited by Portal Gallery in London, and the reverse side bears the gallery's original label, which represented Cook for decades. The painting was recently included in the ‘Beryl Cook: Pride & Joy’ survey exhibition at The Box, Plymouth, in 2026. Made available directly from The Cook Family Collection, this rare oil painting represents an exciting opportunity to own an important piece of 20th-century British art history.