Quentin Blake

Born in the London suburbs in 1932, Quentin Blake has been drawing for as long as he can remember. His artistic journey began after attending Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, followed by his National Service. He furthered his education by studying English at Downing College, Cambridge, and later pursued a postgraduate teaching diploma at the University of London. To refine his craft even more, Blake attended life classes at Chelsea Art School.

Throughout his career, Blake has predominantly worked as an illustrator while also dedicating over two decades to teaching at the Royal College of Art. His invaluable contributions led him to become the head of the Illustration department from 1978 to 1986. Blake's talent was recognized at a young age, with his first drawings being published in Punch when he was just 16 and still in school. His artistic prowess extended beyond magazines like Punch and The Spectator, as he also embarked on a career in children's books, starting with A Drink of Water by John Yeoman in 1960.

Blake is celebrated for collaborating with notable authors like Roald Dahl, Russell Hoban, Joan Aiken, Michael Rosen, and John Yeoman. His artistic talents extend beyond collaborations, as he has also brought to life beloved characters such as Mister Magnolia and Mrs Armitage.

In addition to illustrating classic books like A Christmas Carol and Candide, Blake has successfully ventured into exhibition curation since the 1990s. His curated shows have been displayed in prestigious venues such as the National Gallery, the British Library, and the Musée du Petit Palais in Paris. Recently, Blake has taken on larger-scale projects for healthcare settings in the UK and France, including hospitals. His captivating artwork can now be found in wards and public spaces, and he has recently completed an expansive project for an entire maternity hospital in Angers.

His books have won numerous prizes and awards, including the Whitbread Award, the Kate Greenaway Medal, the Emil/Kurt Maschler Award and the international Bologna Ragazzi Prize. He won the 2002 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration, the highest international recognition given to creators of children's books. In 2004, Blake was awarded the 'Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres' by the French Government for services to literature and in 2007 he was made Officier in the same order. In 2014 he was admitted to the Legion d'Honneur, an honour accorded to few people who are not French nationals. In 1999 he was appointed the first ever Children's Laureate, a post designed to raise the profile of children's literature. His book Laureate's Progress (2002) recorded many of his activities and the illustrations he produced during his two-year tenure. Blake was created CBE in 2005, is an RDI and has numerous honorary degrees from universities throughout the UK. He received a knighthood for 'services to illustration' in the New Year's Honours for 2013, and became an Honorary Freeman of the City of London in 2015.