BRITAIN:Artist Beryl Cook, known for her flamboyant characters, died peacefully today.
The 81-year-old, once described by Victoria Wood as "Rubens with jokes" had continued painting until recently, her gallery representative said.
Jess Wilder, co-owner of London's Portal Gallery, which has shown Cook's paintings exclusively for more than 30 years, said: "She died peacefully this morning with her family around her. It's very sad indeed. She was painting until very recently. We had a marvellous 80th birthday party here."
Cook died at her home in Plymouth with her husband and son, both named John, at her side.
The artist once said: "I don't know how my pictures happen, they just do. They exist, but for the life of me I can't explain them."
Cook was one of Britain's best-loved artists, yet many critics have turned up their noses at her bold and humorous depictions of portly ladies and fun-loving characters going about routine activities.
Her fans have accused the major art galleries of snubbing her work, which sells for up to £40,000. Last year, they launched a campaign against the Tate Modern for not buying a single Cook painting.
Her paintings document familiar social situations like girls on a hen night, in a disco or shopping, men in the pub, at a strip club or at the market. She is credited with capturing "moments of social history, portrayed with a playful streak of naughtiness".
She recently told the BBC: "I'm only motivated to paint by people enjoying themselves."
Surrey-born Cook was one of four sisters and left school at the age of 14. In 1943, she moved to London and became a showgirl in a touring production of The Gypsy Princess. She was employed in the fashion industry.
In 1946, she married childhood friend John, with whom she briefly ran a pub when he retired from the Merchant Navy.
Their son was born in 1950, and the following year they left to live in Southern Rhodesia - a move said to be a turning point for Cook.
After picking up some paints belonging to her son, Cook could not stop painting, using scraps of wood, fire screens and even a breadboard. The family later moved to Plymouth, where in the summer months they ran a theatrical boarding house.
A local exhibition in the mid-1970s attracted huge acclaim, followed by a cover and feature in the Sunday Times magazine and Cook's first London exhibition, which was a sell-out. In 1979, Melvyn Bragg made a film about Cook for the South Bank Show. In 1995, she received the OBE. - (PA)