This summer Aberdeen Art Gallery is hosting a double-bill of exhibitions all in one amazing space, Quentin Blake: Illustrating Verse and Quentin Blake: Book Covers, featuring the work of the UK’s best-loved illustrator, Quentin Blake, who celebrated his 90th birthday last year.
The exhibitions are on tour from the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration and open to the public on Saturday 8 July.
Quentin Blake: Illustrating Verse is the first ever exhibition dedicated to Blake’s illustrations of poetry. Quentin Blake has been writing an 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 such as Alice in Wonderland, this exhibition features previously unseen works from Blake’s archive, such a surreal illustrations for Sylvia Plath’s The Bed Book and mischievous cats for T. S. Elliot’s The Song of 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.
The second exhibition, Quentin Blake: Book Covers, features 60 of Blake’s book covers from the 1960s to the present day: from mid-century Penguin paperbacks to finely crafted special editions and family-friendly poetry books. First editions are shown alongside reproductions of original artwork from Blake’s archive that show how he combines typography, dynamic layout and his unique way of drawing to create playful designs.
Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman said:
“We are delighted to be able to display this amazing selection of Quentin Blake's work. His illustrations have delighted millions of people over many years. Visitors of all ages will get much pleasure from seeing these splendid original works from the artist’s studio, many on show for the very first time. The exhibitions are a great opportunity to enjoy close up his truly remarkable skills and creativity."
The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration who are touring the exhibitions said:
“We are thrilled that it will be A Quentin Blake Summer at Aberdeen Art Gallery, with not one, but two of our touring exhibitions opening this July. We work closely with our founder Quentin to create exhibitions that offer visitors a unique look into his incredible practice through rough drawings, sketchbooks, first editions and reproductions of original artwork from his archives. Our Illustrating Verse and Book Covers exhibitions have travelled to a number of museums and galleries across the UK and we are so pleased to be working with Aberdeen Art Gallery to be bringing these exhibitions to such a wonderful space this summer.”
A Quentin Blake Summer is complemented by a number of exciting events at the Art Gallery including Family fun: Doric take on Quentin Blake where Scots Scriever Shane Strachan reads Scots versions of Roald Dah’s Fantastic Mr Fox and Revolting Rhymes. Family fun: Illustrating you sees our resident illustrator Megan Smith sketch your portrait in the style of an imagined children’s book.
A Quentin Blake Summer: Illustrating Verse and Book Covers
Touring exhibitions from Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration
8 July – 17 September 2023, open daily, adults £5, children 16 and under free
Aberdeen Art Gallery, Schoolhill, Aberdeen AB10 1FQ
Tickets can be purchased in advance at https://thelittleboxoffice.com/aagm/book/event/182611
Image: Councillor Martin Greig with Ben Martin, Exhibitions Officer in A Quentin Blake Summer: Illustrating Verse and Book Covers at Aberdeen Art Gallery