Richard Cook

Richard Cook was born in Cheltenham, UK, and spent his early childhood in Sri Lanka. Cook later studied at St Martins School of Art, London and the Royal College of Art, London. After working in London for a while, Cook eventually moved to Cornwall in 1984, where he has lived and worked ever since.

Over the years, Cook has been preoccupied with the human presence in wilderness, and the breath of nature. He makes regular walks in nature and there he produces quick, sketch-like drawings which provide, using the artist’s words “an energy which is the impetus for the works in the studio.”

He has had various exhibitions, including solo shows at the Exchange in 2010, and at Tate St Ives in 2000. His work is included in Tate, British Museum, and Arts Council collections amongst others.

In order to comply with government guidelines, Cook restricted his practice into making drawings from his own window. Using this limit as a way to enact new expressions and freedom, Cook has made large scale paintings from three window sketches. The three paintings are titled after the days in which the sketches were realised.