From 10 September–25 October 2026, Studio Voltaire and Bicester Village are collaborating on a major project celebrating the enduring legacy of iconic British painter Beryl Cook (b. 1926–d. 2008). Launched on what would have been Cook’s 100th birthday, Bicester Village is hosting a mile-long open-air installation featuring life-size cutout characters and large-scale murals from the artist's best-loved paintings.

Visitors can find themselves shopping, eating and walking right alongside Cook’s larger-than-life characters who will populate the streets, benches, signposts, green spaces and phone boxes of the village. From characters shopping at the market, bowling on the green and gardening, to flamboyant ladies dancing on balconies, Cook’s depictions of everyday Britain celebrate joy in the everyday.

Cook’s characters lead visitors to a House of Voltaire pop-up in the centre of the village, hosting an exclusive capsule collection celebrating all things Beryl Cook, ranging from limited-edition prints to specially designed cushions, tea towels, silk scarves, pin badges, tea cups, tea trays, tablecloths, and ​lambswool​​​ dog blankets. House of Voltaire is also offering very rare, original Beryl Cook ​unique works​​ for sale.

​​​​‘Beryl Cook & Friends’ also pairs Cook’s work with a stellar lineup of editions and merchandise by renowned artists and designers who continue her important legacy. Contributors include Ashish, Jeremy Deller, Patrizio di Massimo, Anthea Hamilton, Ella Kruglyanskaya, Linder and France-Lise McGurn. Limited editions by iconic British artists Stanley Spencer and Louis Wain will be available, contextualising Cook’s work alongside three historic artists whom Cook was greatly influenced by.​​​​

With prices ranging from ​£7 to £70,000​​​​​​,​ the collection allows established collectors and burgeoning enthusiasts alike to take home a piece of British cultural history.

Bringing Cook’s joyous energy from Bicester Village to London, House of Voltaire will return to Mayfair at Frieze No. 9, Cork Street, London, from 26 November to 19 December 2026, offering a cornucopia of unique works, limited editions and specially commissioned homewares, clothing and accessories from over 100 artists and designers, just in time for Christmas shopping.

All works are available at Bicester Village and globally at houseofvoltaire.org. Sales support arts and education charity Studio Voltaire’s free artistic and community programmes.

Organised in close collaboration with Beryl Cook’s family, the project follows Studio Voltaire’s blockbuster 2024 exhibition, 'Beryl Cook / Tom of Finland', the most-visited in the organisation’s 32-year history, which helped to reappraise Beryl’s oeuvre and bring it to a new generation of admirers. A subsequent retrospective of Cook’s work was held this January–May at The Box in her hometown of Plymouth, reaching record-breaking audiences.

This project also marks the launch of a major three-year partnership between Studio Voltaire and Bicester Village, which will see Bicester Village provide transformational funding to Studio Voltaire’s renowned Learning Programme. This landmark partnership will allow Studio Voltaire to significantly expand its creative programming with local schools, colleges and community groups.

Designed to overcome the barriers often encountered in formal education, the programme champions those with limited access to creative opportunities by providing free, artist-led workshops, drop-in activities, and skills-development sessions that are deeply rooted in fostering wellbeing and community joy.