Quentin Blake

**Sir Quentin Saxby Blake** <small>CH</small> <small>CBE</small> (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)

## 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