BERNARD ROOKE STUDIED PAINTING AND LITHOGRAPHY AT IPSWICH SCHOOL OF ART 1955-59
STUDIED PRINTMAKING AND CERAMICS AT GOLDSMITHS COLLEGE, LONDON. 1959-60.
THE POTTERY WAS STARTED IN 1960 IN SOUTH LONDON. IT WAS RUN AS A STUDIO POTTERY WITH OCCASIONAL PARTIME ASSISTANTS.
1961-65 LECTURED AT GOLDSMITHS COLLEGE, AND ST MARYS COLLEGE L.U. 1961-65.
IN 1967 A MOVE WAS MADE TO THE VICTORIAN MILL IN SUFFOLK.
WITH MUCH MORE SPACE, AND OPPOURTUNITIES FOR EXPANSION THE WORKSHOP WAS DEVELOPED, EMPLOYING 5 ASSISTANTS. MEANWHILE THE STUDIO POTTERY WAS DEVELOPED WITH THE GALLERY BECOMING THE FOCUS OF THE WHOLE EFFORT.
FROM 1976 SON AARON COMPLETED HIS TRAINING IN THE POTTERY AND ASSUMED MORE RESPONSIBILTY, AND WORKED FULLTIME FROM 1978 ONWARD.
FROM 1979 BERNARD ROOKE CONCENTRATED ON PAINTING AND STUDIO POTTERY, AS WELL AS DESIGNING FOR THE WORKSHOP.
Exhibited U.K. and abroad. Work in private collections and, Victoria and Albert Museum, Buckinghamshire County Museum, Liecester Museum,Cleveland Museum, Paisley Museum, Nuffield Foundation, Rosska Museum-Sweden, Trondhiem Museum-Norway.
Some early works are to be found at auction at Christies, Bonhams, Phillips, . Collectors fairs and internet auctions, and other auction houses around the country and abroad
Paul Rice Gallery.1995. Bury St Edmunds Festival 1996. Crafts Council Gallery 1995. Edinburgh Festival Queens Hall 1996, 1997, and 1999 Norwich Festival- Paintings, 1998.