Professor Quentin Saxby Blake, CBE (born December 16, 1932) is a British cartoonist and author.

He took a degree in English Literature at Downing College, Cambridge (1953-6)

He is well-known for illustrating numerous children's books, including the works of Roald Dahl and the Agaton Sax series. He has also written and illustrated titles of his own.

His artistic style is very distinct, composed of fast, scribbly ink lines and loose sploches of watercolor. The spontaneity of his style is achieved by allowing himself a free hand at first, and then tracing elements from the first draft onto subsequent drafts.

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.

In the New Year's Honours List published 31 December, 2004 he was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Bibliography

(this list only covers those books which were both written and illustrated by Blake)

• Drawing for the Artistically Undiscovered with John Cassidy
• Mrs Armitage Queen Of The Road
• Laureate's Progress
• Loveykins
• Quentin Blake's Abc
• A Sailing Boat In The Sky
• Fantastic Daisy Artichoke
• Words And Pictures
• Zagazoo
• The Laureate's Party
• The Green Ship
• Mister Magnolia
• Mrs Armitage And The Big Wave
• Mrs Armitage On Wheels
• All Join In
• Clown
• The Story Of The Dancing Frog
• Simpkin
• Quentin Blake's Nursery Rhymes
• Cockatoos
• The Adventures of Lester

Other

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

External links

• Official Quentin Blake Website
• Interview with Quentin Blake - In free streaming video (Real), on the Northwestern University Library website

1932 births | Living people | Alumni of Downing College, Cambridge | British cartoonists | British children's writers | British illustrators | Commanders of the Order of the British Empire | Winners of the Hans Christian Andersen Award

Willy Wonka

Quentin Blake | Quentin Blake | Quentin Blake | Quentin Blake