‘I am very serious about being silly’: children’s illustrators on the art of storytelling
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- Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration will open next month in a 17th‑century industrial complex in Clerkenwell, London, billed as the world’s largest permanent institution devoted to illustration.
- Quentin Blake’s archive of 40,000 drawings, created over a 75‑year career, will be housed at the centre, cementing his legacy as a leading British illustrator.
- Axel Scheffler says picture‑book illustrators are often “in the shadow” despite being essential to the storytelling process, highlighting the art form’s under‑recognition.
- Sarah McIntyre launched the Pictures Mean Business campaign a decade ago to secure proper credit for illustrators, noting that illustration work can take three to four months of intensive effort.
Why it matters: Illustrators gain a permanent national home housing 40,000 Blake drawings, giving them a high‑profile platform; publishers and the public benefit from greater visibility of illustration.
