Artist painter born in Christchurch. Studied at Canterbury University College School of Art, and won the Rosa Sawtell Travelling scholarship in 1926 - this enabled him to study in London, Paris, Edinburgh and Rome, from 1924-1927. His brother Alfred Cook was at one time married to Rita Angus. A friend of Basil Honour (See "Art New Zealand" vol 42, page 65). Exhibited at the NZ Academy of Fine Arts in 1929, 1932-1938. Taught at Canterbury University College School of Art 1927-1932. Travelled in Europe in the 1930s. Made a sketch of W. Basil Honour and John Dobree Pascoe in 1933, signed `To W B Honour, many thanks from James Cook, '33' (See photograph of sketch in Pascoe Album I (PA1-o-406, p 18). A member of The Group from 1932, and exhibited with them in 1947, even though he was by then living in Australia. Official war artist. Taught at the East Sydney Technical College. Curated the Art Gallery of Western Australia 1949-1952; Art critic for the Sydney Daily Telegraph 1952-1959. William Dobell was his friend and painted a picture of him. Died of pneumonia while travelling in Italy in 1960. A memorial exhibition of his work was held at the Macquarie Galleries in December 1960. Exhibitions in Sarjeant Gallery 1984; Dunedin Public Art Gallery September 1980; Robert McDougall Art Gallery 1985. Represented in galleries in New Zealand and Australia. See entry in "Encyclopedia of Australian art", by Alan McCulloch (1984), NZ Biographies 1961, volume 2, page 46; "Art New Zealand", volume 42, page 65; article by Ernest Smith, "Art New Zealand" no 1 (1960), pages 11-15 (re 3 expatriate NZ artists)..
Cook, James, 1904-1960
Pascoe album 1
Date: [Between 1914 and 1937]
From: Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972 :Photographic albums, prints and negatives
Reference: PA1-o-406
Description: Photographs taken by John Dobree Pascoe and others, in the Southern Alps, particularly Canterbury region. They include groups of mountaineers; views of mountain ranges and valleys; mountain huts and life enjoyed by the mountaineers; and several scenes showing Canterbury Mountaineering Club annual sports days over a number of years. Most of the photographs are fully described, with names usually given with initials and surnames, or nicknames. Many of the people and places photographed are listed above. Most of the landscape photographs are again fully described, with peaks and routes traversed marked on the images. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with black cover; "J.D. Pascoe" lettered in gold in bottom right-hand corner; [240 p.]; 26.5 x 32.5 cm
[Cook, James], 1904-1960 :Trumans. [1926].
Date: 1926
By: Cook, James, 1904-1960
Reference: C-088-022
Description: Shows a waiter offering a gentleman diner a bottle of Trumans beer. Example of a commercial poster done by James Cook to earn his living in London in 1926. Quantity: 1 oil(s). Physical Description: Oil on canvas, 560 x 430 mm. Provenance: Previously owned by artist's former landlady in London.
Cook, James, 1904-1960 :[John Dobree Pascoe and Basil Honour]
Date: 1933
From: Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972 :Photographic albums, prints and negatives
By: Cook, James, 1904-1960
Reference: PA1-o-406-018-5
Description: Photographic copy of a sketch by made James Cook (1904-1960) in 1933 showing John Dobree Pascoe and Basil Honour. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print 199 x 136 mm mounted on album page
Page, Evelyn (Polson), 1899-1988 :[Portrait of James Cook] - 1923
Date: 1923
By: Page, Evelyn Margaret, 1899-1988
Reference: A-246-023
Description: Shows head and shoulders sketch of the artist painter James Cook. On verso: [Portrait of unidentified woman] (A-246-024) Signature added at later date James Cook's brother, Alfred, was married to Rita Angus Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil, 304 x 214 mm