Ian Cook
Biography
Ian Cook is an artist and teacher who studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1968 to 1975, winning the Hutcheson Drawing Prize and completing postgraduate study in Fine Art. He was awarded the Cargill Travelling Scholarship to research Spanish and North African sources. In 1985, an Arts Council bursary enabled him to spend several months in Central Africa, furthering his research and producing artworks from his experiences there.
His work has been exhibited widely in the UK, Europe and the Americas, including at the Royal Academy, the Sunday Times Watercolour Exhibition and the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts. His work is held in collections including the BBC, Trustee Savings Bank and the Fleming Collection. He received the Winsor & Newton Award at the RI Exhibition in 2000 and the Richard Plincke Prize in 2023.
Artist Statement
Ian Cook is inspired by a combination of reading and travel, with his work often drawing on historical and cultural sources. He has undertaken long-term research projects across different continents, seeking to deepen his understanding of diverse cultures and to bring elements of those experiences into his art.
His works often provide a narrative that refers to their source and inspiration. Rather than focusing solely on scenic qualities, Ian aims to incorporate historical and cultural elements, reflecting his belief that travel and creative experience can broaden understanding and encourage greater compassion and tolerance towards other cultures.
His approach to art is exploratory and patient, allowing ideas to develop over extended periods. He seeks to look beyond the purely visual and to engage with wider human and emotional themes through his work.