Sir Quentin Blake

Quentin Blake was born in the suburbs of London in 1932 and has drawn ever since he can remember. He has always made his living as an illustrator, as well as teaching for over twenty years at the Royal College of Art, where he was head of the Illustration department between 1978 and 1986.

His first drawings were published in Punch while he was 16 and still at school. He continued to draw for Punch, The Spectator and other magazines over many years, while at the same time entering the world of children's books. He is known for his collaboration with writers such as Russell Hoban, Joan Aiken, Michael Rosen, John Yeoman and, most famously, Roald Dahl. He has also illustrated classic books, including A Christmas Carol and Candide and created much-loved characters of his own, including Mister Magnolia and Mrs Armitage.

The first book Roald Dahl and illustrator Quentin Blake worked upon together was The Enormous Crocodile. Dahl and Blake soon became firm friends, cementing one of the most eye-catching and distinctive collaborations in children's literature. Roald Dahl died in 1990. His work, published in over 40 languages, is today considered a modern classic.