Cockatoos fly into Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration

You might have noticed a new feathered friend perched on our logo or flying about our website. Ahead of our opening in May, we have refreshed our look, inspired by founder Quentin Blake, who has drawn hundreds of cockatoos, parakeets and other birds over his nearly 80-year career.

The Centre’s suite, or ‘crackle’, of cockatoos – a perched one, a running one and a regal one, along with a flying parakeet – is a nod towards the curiosity, playfulness and versatility of illustration. Colours, chosen for improved accessibility and suitability across print and digital, have been loosely inspired by Quentin’s watercolours, creating a warm and welcoming feel.

Cockatoos, a kind of parrot, are unique creatures with prominent crests and beaks. Known to mimic human speech, cockatoos are viewed as symbols of wisdom, guardianship and communication. This perfectly encapsulates the power of illustration to communicate across barriers and the values of the Centre. Parakeets are an increasingly common – and charming – sight around London.

Quentin Blake says, “I have liked birds – to look at and to draw – ever since I was a child; and more recently I have found that if you need an extra note of colour, a small parrot or cockatoo is very useful.”

The free-spirited cockatoo complements the Centre’s pre-existing logotype, as designed by Fraser Muggeridge Studio. Set in Caslon Doric, the typeface was created less than a mile away from the Centre’s Clerkenwell site at a time when it was a working waterworks, bustling with industrial activity. The Centre is due to open in May 2026 as a new cultural destination with exhibitions, shop, café, library and gardens.