Drawing visitors from across the Southwest, the UK, France, Portugal and the United States, it showcased 80 of Cook’s best-loved paintings alongside personal items and archive material that explored her life, influences and enduring appeal.

The final attendance figure of 103,795 visits represents a significant achievement for The Box, which is one of the five finalists for this year’s Art Fund Museum of the Year Award, and highlights the continuing popularity of one of Plymouth’s most famous cultural figures.

Jemima Laing, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council said:

We have been blown away by the success of Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy. It was a fantastic exhibition that, alongside high visitor numbers, generated an unprecedented amount of positive feedback, and which demonstrates the strong connection audiences continue to have with Cook’s vibrant, humorous and unmistakably human depictions of everyday life.

You can find out more about The Box’s exhibition programme here.

You can read blog posts published to coincide with the Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy exhibition here, including posts about Beryl’s influences and travels.