London’s House of Illustration is working with auction house Christie’s to offer fans of artist Quentin Blake a unique opportunity to bid for original artwork by the UK’s most celebrated illustrator.

200 works from Quentin Blake’s studio will go under the virtual hammer from 2nd to 16th December. Viewing of all 200 works will open online on 24th November 2020.
 
Selected by the artist himself, these recent works include drawings for books and designs for installations – all in Sir Quentin’s inimitable style.
 
All funds raised will support House of Illustration’s ongoing projects, including creative resources for schools and families and the development of our future home, the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration.

A creator who has always worked in illustration, Quneton Blake is is well 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.

Since the 1990s Quentin Blake has had an additional career as exhibition curator, curating shows in, among other places, the National Gallery, the British Library and the Musée du Petit Palais in Paris. In the last few years he has begun to make larger-scale work for hospitals and healthcare settings in the UK and France where his work can be seen in wards and public spaces.

• View the auction highlights now on the Christie’s web site | 200 works from Quentin Blake’s studio will go under the virtual hammer from 2nd to 16th December 2020. Viewing of all 200 works will open online on 24th November 2020. Bidding starts at £100

• Visit the House of Illustration online: houseofillustration.org.uk

• Quentin Blake is online at www.quentinblake.com

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

Categories: Art and Illustration, Auctions, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds

Tags: Auction News, Christie's, downthetubes News, House of Illustration, Quentin Blake, Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration