Wood and Water Linda Ryle/Cooper Linda Ryle was born in Newcastle upon-Tyne, where she did a Foundation Course before going to Goldsmiths College, London to do a Dip.A.D in Fine Art. Linda lived and taught in London until 1975, when with her husband Julian Cooper, also a painter, she moved to the Lake District. In 2002 they moved to Cockermouth. Well known as Linda Cooper for her paintings of animals, the work in Percy House was the first exhibition under her maiden name, which she uses for alternative work. The theme was "Wood and Water". Many paintings are oil on wood, but there are some pastels and watercolours.