Quentin Blake has been drawing ever since he can remember and has always made his living as an artist. He taught at the Royal College of Art, where he was Head of the Illustration Department from 1978 to 1986. He is known for his collaborations with writers such as Russell Hoban, Michael Rosen, John Yeoman, and most famously, Roald Dahl. He has also illustrated classic books for adults and created much-loved characters of his own such as Mister Magnolia and Mrs Armitage.
Blake was made an OBE in 1988, and, in the words of The Guardian, was 'already a national institution' when he was appointed the first ever Children's Laureate in 1999, a post created to raise the profile of children's literature. In 2002, he won the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration, the highest international recognition given to makers of children's books. In 2004 he 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. He was awarded a CBE in 2005, an RDI (Royal Designer for Industry), as well as numerous honorary degrees from universities throughout the UK. He received a knighthood for services to illustration in the New Year's Honours for 2013, was admitted to the Legion d'Honneur, an honour accorded to few people who are not French nationals, necame an Honorary Freeman of the City of London in 2015, and was appointed Companion of Honour in the Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours List in 2022.
Image: ©Quentin Blake 2023