Grange Moor artist in demand after 60,000 caricatures

May 11 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Grange Moor artist in demand after 60,000 caricatures

“The same afternoon their managing director was sat in my house signing me up.

“In the last two months they have sold 23 of my paintings to some of the top galleries in the country.

“It’s amazing, to think they’ve picked up a tired old characteristic from Mirfield whose been round the block a few times and within a week I am selling art next to world famous artists.

“I hope they don’t find out the last art lesson I had was at school,” he joked.

A former Merchant Naval officer, Mr Cooke began focusing on his art work in the early 90s.

He joined Butlins as their resident caricaturist and later started his own American-style Caricature Booths and now employs other artists, describing their work as brilliant.

He added: “I still do a bit myself, it’s great fun.

“I’m at Blackpool Pleasure Beach during the summer.

“Over the years I must have drawn over 60,000 caricatures from live sittings and still enjoy it.”