cook was born in winchcombe in gloucestershire and studied art at the royal academy schools, where he was taught by both walter thomas monnington and walter westley russell. at the ra, cook won a gold medal and a travelling scholarship. he went on to study at the central school of art and crafts where he specialised in wood engraving, under the direction of noel rooke. in 1939, for the book publisher harrap, he illustrated "the teamsmen" by crichton porteous.