New Quentin Blake exhibition showing 70 works to go on display at Compton Verney

A REAL coup of an exhibition comes to Compton Verney when 70 works from much-loved illustrator Sir Quentin Blake go on display from 27th May.

Few artists or illustrators alive can claim to have quite the same relationship with the British public as QB, as he is affectionately known.

A key part of childhood and reading for the past 60 years, his inimitable style will be forever associated with books by writers such as Michael Rosen, David Walliams and, of course, Roald Dahl.

Quentin Blake: Birds, Beasts & Explorers will run until 1st October. It brings together more than 70 of Quentin’s images of real and imaginary creatures, intrepid individuals, and

“There are lots of connections between what visitors will see on the walls of the galleries inside the house and the wildlife we have in the grounds of Compton Verney,” explained the exhibition’s curator, Oli McCall. “Follow Quentin’s lead, and take inspiration from the characters he has so memorably created, before embarking on your own adventures that are just waiting to be enjoyed here, amongst our 120-acres of beautiful parkland. There are dozens of varieties of bird and animal life alone here to see.”

Birds, Beasts & Explorers also represents an opportunity to see Blake’s different approaches to illustration, as Mr McCall pointed out: “The exhibition will include a series of insect etchings and a number of watercolour drawings which are in a style not usually associated with Quentin.”