Exhibition of the Illustrations of Quentin Blake

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Weston Museum is thrilled to host the first ever exhibition dedicated to Quentin Blake’s illustrations for poetry.  The exhibition is on tour across the UK and will be at Weston Museum from from Tuesdays to Saturdays 10:00am - 16:00 pm 4 March – 3 June 2023 with free entry.

Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration is the UK’s only charity for illustration – the art that we experience in our everyday lives. The Quentin Blake centre celebrates illustration in all its forms, supports illustrators and empowers people of all ages to tell their stories.  They are now working to restore an industrial heritage site to create a permanent home. While they’re between buildings, they’re connecting people with illustration with wonderful touring exhibitions, residencies, online events and collaborations with schools and communities.

“The choice of moments, and a sense of discretion about what to draw and what not to draw, is particularly important in the business of illustrating poetry.” Quentin Blake

Quentin Blake has been writing and illustrating poetry throughout his 60-year career. Many of his own books feature rhymes and songs, and he has collaborated with writers including Michael Rosen and Roald Dahl. 

As well as artwork for popular nursery rhymes like The Owl and the Pussycat and classic stories including Alice in Wonderland, the exhibition features previously unseen works from Blake’s archive, such as surreal illustrations for Sylvia Plath’s The Bed Book and mischievous cats for T. S. Elliot’s The Song of the Jellicles.

Sketchbooks and rough drawings give a rare insight into Blake’s writing and book design process, as well as the creation of characters for Roald Dahl’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and his own Mr Magnolia.