Brian Cook, my childhood superhero

Just over a couple of decades ago, on my 11th birthday, my parents gave me a book about Brian Cook.  I'd never heard of him, I had no idea who he was or what he did, but from the first glance, I knew I liked what he did, what I could have never imagined was how he'd go on to change my life!

Brian Cook was a British bookcover illustrator, frequently creating landscape paintings for British travel books.  He worked for many years, but, for me, the work he produced in the 1930's for Batsford Books was truly golden.  His work, still to this day working as a professional illustrator myself, blows me away, his wild colours, perfect scenery, fresh and inspiring tones, will always bring a smile to my face.  Funnily enough, Brian Cook himself never saw this work as his best and most creative, he just saw it as a way to pay the bills!

Brian Cook will always stand as one of my greatest inspirations, from the age of 11, my superhero.