Quentin Blake

Quentin Saxby Blake CBE (born 16 December 1932) is a British author and illustrator of children's books. He is most known for his drawings in books written by Roald Dahl.

Education 
Blake went to Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School. His first published drawing was for Punch magazine, at the age of 16.  He studied English Literature at Downing College, Cambridge (1953-6) and later studied at the Chelsea School of Art.  He trained as a teacher at the Institute of Education before working at the Royal College of Art.

Career 
Blake gained a reputation as an illustrator of over 300 children's books. His work in Roald Dahl's books made him internationally famous.  As well as his work with Dahl, Blake has also written several books of his own.

Awards and honours 
 In 1974 Blake and Russell Hoban were awarded the Whitbread Award for Children's Book for How Tom Beat Captain Najork & His Hired Sportsmen.
 He was appointed an OBE in 1988, and then an CBE in 2005, for services to Children's Literature.
 Since 1989, he has been Visiting professor at the Royal College of Art.
 In 1999 he was made the first Children's Laureate in the UK.
 In 2002 he was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for his contributions to children's book illustration.
 He was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Cambridge in 2005.

Bibliography (partial) 
This is a list only of books both written and illustrated by Blake.

 Patrick, 1968, Jonathan Cape
 Jack and Nancy, 1969, Jonathan Cape
 Angelo, 1970, Jonathan Cape
 Snuff, 1973, Jonathan Cape
 Lester at the Seaside, 1975, Collins
 Lester and the Unusual Pet, 1975, Collins
 The Adventures of Lester, 1977, BBC
 Mister Magnolia, 1980, Jonathan Cape
 Quentin Blake's Nursery Rhyme Book, 1983, Jonathan Cape
 The Story of the Dancing Frog, 1984, Jonathan Cape
 Mrs Armitage On Wheels, 1987, Jonathan Cape
 Quentin Blake's ABC, 1989, Jonathan Cape
 All Join In, 1990, Jonathan Cape
 Cockatoos, 1992, Jonathan Cape
 Simpkin, 1993, Jonathan Cape
 The Quentin Blake Book of Nonsense Verse, 1994, Viking
 Clown, 1995, Jonathan Cape
 La Vie de la Page, 1995, Gallimard
 Mrs Armitage and the Big Wave, 1997, Jonathan Cape
 Dix Grenouilles (Ten Frogs), 1997, Gallimard
 The Green Ship, 1998, Jonathan Cape
 Zagazoo, 1998, Jonathan Cape
 Zap! The Quentin Blake Guide to Electrical Safety, 1998, Eastern Electricity
 Fantastic Daisy Artichoke, 1999, Jonathan Cape
 The Laureate's Party, 2000, Random House
 Un Bateau Dans le Ciel, 2000, Rue du Monde
 Words and Pictures, 2000, Jonathan Cape
 Tell Me a Picture, 2001, National Gallery Co Ltd
 Loveykins, 2002, Jonathan Cape
 Laureate's Progress, 2002, Jonathan Cape
 Mrs Armitage, Queen of the Road, 2003, Jonathan Cape
 A Sailing Boat In The Sky, 2003, Red Fox
 Angel Pavement, 2004, Jonathan Cape

Other 
 The Learning Journey (Illustrated versions, for parents, of key stages 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum for England)

Notes

Other websites 
 Quentin Blake official site
 Biography of Blake  from British Cartoon Archive, University of Kent

Interviews and articles
 Interview, with The Guardian, September 28, 2007
 Interview with Quentin Blake  - In free streaming video (Real), on the Northwestern University Library website
 Report on community dialogue in 2007 

1932 births
Living people
British illustrators
British writers
Cartoonists