Illustrator, author and educator Quentin Blake founded our charity in 2022. Find out more about his work.
Quentin Blake was born in south-east London in 1932. He had his first illustration published in Punch magazine in 1949 when he was still at school. Since then, he has written and/or illustrated more than 500 books, been a teacher of illustrators and created murals for hospitals, galleries and community spaces. He still draws every day.
“I have been frequently told that my drawing is distinctive, recognisable; the marks are like a sort of handwriting.”
Quentin works at his flat in London. He has one table for drawing, and another for adding colour.
When illustrating books, Quentin creates characters. He acts out his characters’ gestures and facial expressions to work out how they should look, rather than drawing from real life.
Quentin normally draws with a scratchy dip pen with a Waverley nib, but sometimes he uses crayons or feather quills to create unusual lines and textures.
Quentin usually starts with a rough drawing to help him plan the layout of a page and the positions of his characters. He places this on a lightbox under a sheet of watercolour paper. His next drawing in ink uses the layout he has created but still has the energy of a drawing created spontaneously.
Sometimes, he adds watercolour to bring tone or colour to the ink drawing.
“I like its lightness and fluidity… and there is an enormous amount that even a discreet use of colour can add by way of mood and atmosphere.”
Quentin set up our organisation to create a place where illustration has a home and now we're making it a reality by transforming a fascinating but forgotten heritage site, New River Head, in Clerkenwell into the UK’s centre for illustration, opening in early 2026.
“Illustration is a language that is both expressive and easily understood. Some form of it probably exists all over the world, and it’s an art in which our country has a great tradition. One also which I have practised with joy and fascination for the 70 years of my working life. You will understand if I am enthusiastic that as many people may be able to share in the riches it offers.
"I am passionate in my enthusiasm for New River Head. One day I hope it will show some of my archive of several thousand original drawings—but, much more importantly, it will be an international centre for the display, discussion and celebration of the extraordinary wealth of what illustration has to offer."
