Laindon artist’s pals paint him for his 65th birthday

4:00pm Friday 29th June 2012 in Basildon By Emma Palmer

Victor Cooke – surrounded by his portraits Victor Cooke – surrounded by his portraits

HE may not have been blessed with the regal aura of the Queen or the Hollywood glamour of James Dean, but that hasn’t stopped artists scrambling to paint the “weathered” face of Victor Cooke.

Her Majesty may have sat for 139 official portraits, but she’s only ever got one painting to hang on her wall at a time.

Victor, on the other hand, ended up with 12 portraits of himself in celebration of his 65th birthday.

He’s such a well known character on the Basildon art scene, that when he let slip his birthday was coming up, his pals at the Basildon Eastgate Art Gallery decided to let their paint brushes mark the occasion.

Victor didn’t want to “sit” for his paintings, so instead he just handed out photographs of himself to keen colleagues. From there, he says, the idea to paint him spread like a “forest fire”.

All the “Victors” have now gone on show in the art gallery, based on the second floor of the Eastgate Shopping Centre, for visitors to enjoy.

Victor, of Newbury Side, Laindon, said: “It’s quite strange to see so many paintings of myself hanging up, but it’s nice!

“I’m not traditional portrait fodder. I would probably describe my face as lived in, or weathered.

“It’s been a fun experience, though. I got to judge the best one and hand out a small prize to the winner.”

Victor moved to Basildon in the Fifties from the Isle of Man.

He is a self-taught artist, specialising in landscapes and seascapes, like Turner and Constable.

Vin Harrop, who helped set up the Eastgate art gallery and is chairman of Essex Arts, said: “It’s not every day an artist gets the accolade of having his portrait done and by such a diverse group of painters, but Victor deserves it. Artists on the whole do not take themselves too seriously. But painting Victor, one of their number, has been a very serious matter, indeed – and rightly so!”

Although masterpieces in their own right, Victor doesn’t expect they will fetch anything in the region of the most expensive portait ever sold – The Portrait of Dr Gachet by Vincent Van Gogh, which went for a staggering $82.5million in 1990.

Comments (6)

4:17pm Fri 29 Jun 12

All 9 of me says...

one question for the churnalists here, regarding the article below this one... if nothing was stolen, how was a man 'robbed' ? Please explain, I am sure with your high standards and journalistic experience, this will not be so difficult.
one question for the churnalists here, regarding the article below this one... if nothing was stolen, how was a man 'robbed' ? Please explain, I am sure with your high standards and journalistic experience, this will not be so difficult. All 9 of me

4:23pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Blind Haze says...

All 9 of me wrote:
one question for the churnalists here, regarding the article below this one... if nothing was stolen, how was a man 'robbed' ? Please explain, I am sure with your high standards and journalistic experience, this will not be so difficult.
I was thinking the same thing although for some reason comments were barred from that one. Instead we have to discuss it on the story about a Kim Jung Il lookalike getting some birthday presents.
[quote][p][bold]All 9 of me[/bold] wrote: one question for the churnalists here, regarding the article below this one... if nothing was stolen, how was a man 'robbed' ? Please explain, I am sure with your high standards and journalistic experience, this will not be so difficult.[/p][/quote]I was thinking the same thing although for some reason comments were barred from that one. Instead we have to discuss it on the story about a Kim Jung Il lookalike getting some birthday presents. Blind Haze

4:53pm Fri 29 Jun 12

emcee says...

Blind Haze wrote:
All 9 of me wrote:
one question for the churnalists here, regarding the article below this one... if nothing was stolen, how was a man 'robbed' ? Please explain, I am sure with your high standards and journalistic experience, this will not be so difficult.
I was thinking the same thing although for some reason comments were barred from that one. Instead we have to discuss it on the story about a Kim Jung Il lookalike getting some birthday presents.
Because the robbery was committed by five black men. The echo are playing the cowards card in case the "anti immigration" mob hijack the comments with less than political correct remarks.
[quote][p][bold]Blind Haze[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]All 9 of me[/bold] wrote: one question for the churnalists here, regarding the article below this one... if nothing was stolen, how was a man 'robbed' ? Please explain, I am sure with your high standards and journalistic experience, this will not be so difficult.[/p][/quote]I was thinking the same thing although for some reason comments were barred from that one. Instead we have to discuss it on the story about a Kim Jung Il lookalike getting some birthday presents.[/p][/quote]Because the robbery was committed by five black men. The echo are playing the cowards card in case the "anti immigration" mob hijack the comments with less than political correct remarks. emcee

12:44am Sat 30 Jun 12

E-Types. says...

emcee wrote:
Blind Haze wrote:
All 9 of me wrote:
one question for the churnalists here, regarding the article below this one... if nothing was stolen, how was a man 'robbed' ? Please explain, I am sure with your high standards and journalistic experience, this will not be so difficult.
I was thinking the same thing although for some reason comments were barred from that one. Instead we have to discuss it on the story about a Kim Jung Il lookalike getting some birthday presents.
Because the robbery was committed by five black men. The echo are playing the cowards card in case the "anti immigration" mob hijack the comments with less than political correct remarks.
Or indeed racist remarks...but you know it kinda of shows where the Echos admins head is at, while they MIGHT have done this to stop racial remarks against black people they seem happy enough to allow Travellers to be racially abused...which might be showing discrimination between black and white.

Black people are protected by the Race Relations act as are Travellers. Black people are recognised as ethnic minorities as are Travellers.
Racial abuse against Black people is illegal and unlawful as is racial abuse against Travellers
Black people have a derogatory word used to describe them which they find offensive as do Travellers.
YET the derogatory word to used to describe Travellers is not only allowed on these threads but last year anyone complaining about the word was banned off the threads!

Taking all this into consideration there certainly seems to be discrimination here...
[quote][p][bold]emcee[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Blind Haze[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]All 9 of me[/bold] wrote: one question for the churnalists here, regarding the article below this one... if nothing was stolen, how was a man 'robbed' ? Please explain, I am sure with your high standards and journalistic experience, this will not be so difficult.[/p][/quote]I was thinking the same thing although for some reason comments were barred from that one. Instead we have to discuss it on the story about a Kim Jung Il lookalike getting some birthday presents.[/p][/quote]Because the robbery was committed by five black men. The echo are playing the cowards card in case the "anti immigration" mob hijack the comments with less than political correct remarks.[/p][/quote]Or indeed racist remarks...but you know it kinda of shows where the Echos admins head is at, while they MIGHT have done this to stop racial remarks against black people they seem happy enough to allow Travellers to be racially abused...which might be showing discrimination between black and white. Black people are protected by the Race Relations act as are Travellers. Black people are recognised as ethnic minorities as are Travellers. Racial abuse against Black people is illegal and unlawful as is racial abuse against Travellers Black people have a derogatory word used to describe them which they find offensive as do Travellers. YET the derogatory word to used to describe Travellers is not only allowed on these threads but last year anyone complaining about the word was banned off the threads! Taking all this into consideration there certainly seems to be discrimination here... E-Types.

7:59pm Sat 30 Jun 12

doasilikey says...

E-Types. wrote:
emcee wrote:
Blind Haze wrote:
All 9 of me wrote:
one question for the churnalists here, regarding the article below this one... if nothing was stolen, how was a man 'robbed' ? Please explain, I am sure with your high standards and journalistic experience, this will not be so difficult.
I was thinking the same thing although for some reason comments were barred from that one. Instead we have to discuss it on the story about a Kim Jung Il lookalike getting some birthday presents.
Because the robbery was committed by five black men. The echo are playing the cowards card in case the "anti immigration" mob hijack the comments with less than political correct remarks.
Or indeed racist remarks...but you know it kinda of shows where the Echos admins head is at, while they MIGHT have done this to stop racial remarks against black people they seem happy enough to allow Travellers to be racially abused...which might be showing discrimination between black and white.

Black people are protected by the Race Relations act as are Travellers. Black people are recognised as ethnic minorities as are Travellers.
Racial abuse against Black people is illegal and unlawful as is racial abuse against Travellers
Black people have a derogatory word used to describe them which they find offensive as do Travellers.
YET the derogatory word to used to describe Travellers is not only allowed on these threads but last year anyone complaining about the word was banned off the threads!

Taking all this into consideration there certainly seems to be discrimination here...
Best you complain to the CRE or the PCC then.
[quote][p][bold]E-Types.[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]emcee[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Blind Haze[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]All 9 of me[/bold] wrote: one question for the churnalists here, regarding the article below this one... if nothing was stolen, how was a man 'robbed' ? Please explain, I am sure with your high standards and journalistic experience, this will not be so difficult.[/p][/quote]I was thinking the same thing although for some reason comments were barred from that one. Instead we have to discuss it on the story about a Kim Jung Il lookalike getting some birthday presents.[/p][/quote]Because the robbery was committed by five black men. The echo are playing the cowards card in case the "anti immigration" mob hijack the comments with less than political correct remarks.[/p][/quote]Or indeed racist remarks...but you know it kinda of shows where the Echos admins head is at, while they MIGHT have done this to stop racial remarks against black people they seem happy enough to allow Travellers to be racially abused...which might be showing discrimination between black and white. Black people are protected by the Race Relations act as are Travellers. Black people are recognised as ethnic minorities as are Travellers. Racial abuse against Black people is illegal and unlawful as is racial abuse against Travellers Black people have a derogatory word used to describe them which they find offensive as do Travellers. YET the derogatory word to used to describe Travellers is not only allowed on these threads but last year anyone complaining about the word was banned off the threads! Taking all this into consideration there certainly seems to be discrimination here...[/p][/quote]Best you complain to the CRE or the PCC then. doasilikey

8:24pm Sat 30 Jun 12

E-Types. says...

doasilikey wrote:
E-Types. wrote:
emcee wrote:
Blind Haze wrote:
All 9 of me wrote:
one question for the churnalists here, regarding the article below this one... if nothing was stolen, how was a man 'robbed' ? Please explain, I am sure with your high standards and journalistic experience, this will not be so difficult.
I was thinking the same thing although for some reason comments were barred from that one. Instead we have to discuss it on the story about a Kim Jung Il lookalike getting some birthday presents.
Because the robbery was committed by five black men. The echo are playing the cowards card in case the "anti immigration" mob hijack the comments with less than political correct remarks.
Or indeed racist remarks...but you know it kinda of shows where the Echos admins head is at, while they MIGHT have done this to stop racial remarks against black people they seem happy enough to allow Travellers to be racially abused...which might be showing discrimination between black and white.

Black people are protected by the Race Relations act as are Travellers. Black people are recognised as ethnic minorities as are Travellers.
Racial abuse against Black people is illegal and unlawful as is racial abuse against Travellers
Black people have a derogatory word used to describe them which they find offensive as do Travellers.
YET the derogatory word to used to describe Travellers is not only allowed on these threads but last year anyone complaining about the word was banned off the threads!

Taking all this into consideration there certainly seems to be discrimination here...
Best you complain to the CRE or the PCC then.
"Best" Perhaps they are not.
[quote][p][bold]doasilikey[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]E-Types.[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]emcee[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Blind Haze[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]All 9 of me[/bold] wrote: one question for the churnalists here, regarding the article below this one... if nothing was stolen, how was a man 'robbed' ? Please explain, I am sure with your high standards and journalistic experience, this will not be so difficult.[/p][/quote]I was thinking the same thing although for some reason comments were barred from that one. Instead we have to discuss it on the story about a Kim Jung Il lookalike getting some birthday presents.[/p][/quote]Because the robbery was committed by five black men. The echo are playing the cowards card in case the "anti immigration" mob hijack the comments with less than political correct remarks.[/p][/quote]Or indeed racist remarks...but you know it kinda of shows where the Echos admins head is at, while they MIGHT have done this to stop racial remarks against black people they seem happy enough to allow Travellers to be racially abused...which might be showing discrimination between black and white. Black people are protected by the Race Relations act as are Travellers. Black people are recognised as ethnic minorities as are Travellers. Racial abuse against Black people is illegal and unlawful as is racial abuse against Travellers Black people have a derogatory word used to describe them which they find offensive as do Travellers. YET the derogatory word to used to describe Travellers is not only allowed on these threads but last year anyone complaining about the word was banned off the threads! Taking all this into consideration there certainly seems to be discrimination here...[/p][/quote]Best you complain to the CRE or the PCC then.[/p][/quote]"Best" Perhaps they are not. E-Types.

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