Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Otis Cook settled in Rockport. He studied at the Swain School of Design in New Bedford and with Emil Gruppe in Gloucester. He was active in the North Shore Art Association, the Guild of Boston Artists, and the Boston Society.

Source: Peter Falk, "Who Was Who in American Art"
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The following is from Joan E. Jacobson whose family has a connection with Otis Cook.

My father, George A. Selley's cousin, Grace Selley (father was Harry Selley) was Otis Cook's wife. According to information from my mother, Grace and Otis lived in Bearskin Neck, Rockport, MA in the late 1930's, 40's and 50's. My mother, Elizabeth White Selley, also knew Otis before she met my father, when she attended the Swain School of Design in New Bedford, MA. My mother attended in late 1931 through 1935 and Otis Cook was there at some point during the time. My mother also babysat for his son, Billy, at that time.

Otis' wife, Grace, my father's cousin, had 3 sisters and they all attended the Winslow School in New Bedford.

My parents visited Otis and Grace Cook in either 1940 or 1941, when my brother was 2 years old. They were given a painting by Otis as a belated wedding gift. My mother has recently died and I have inherited the painting. It has hung in my family home my entire life and is probably my most favorite thing in the entire house. My mother says it shows the fishing shack that was called "Motif #1" - she said this meant it was the most painted spot in Rockport. It shows a large white hulled two masted sailing vessel tied up to a dock in the middle of the painting. It is a beautiful waterfront scene.

My parents lost touch with the Cooks. The last time they were in that area was in about 1949 or 1950 when I was young. Otis and Grace had moved to some sort of shop with a gift shop and a studio for Otis. My mother also said that Grace made jewelry. She has a note card picture of the "Boatshop Studios."

Otis Cook was born in Bedford, Mass. Member of the Guild of Boston Artists. Rockport Art Association. North Shore Arts Association, Academic Artists of Springfield, Independent Artists of Boston, and Longboat Key Art Center, Longboat Key, Florida.

He has won several awards at the Jordan Marsh Exhibit as well as at the Rockport Art Association and Springfield Academic Artists, and others.

Information provided by Pat McCormick.