‘I am very serious about being silly’: children’s illustrators on the art of storytelling
The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration is set to open in London, aiming to elevate the status of illustration in British culture. This center will house an extensive archive of Quentin Blake's work, showcasing the significance of illustrators in storytelling. Various renowned illustrators emphasize the collaborative nature of picture books and the need for greater recognition of their contributions.
- ▪The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration will be the largest institution of its kind in the world.
- ▪Quentin Blake has illustrated works for many famous authors, including Roald Dahl and Michael Rosen.
- ▪Illustrators argue that their role in picture books is often underestimated and deserves more recognition.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — Books |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/may/30/i-am-very-serious-about-being-silly-childrens-illustrators-on-the-art-of-storytelling |
| Publication time | Sat, 30 May 2026 08:01:13 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-30T08:12:08.920Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-30T08:12:08.920Z |
| Headline source | Publisher (no WeSearch rewrite) |
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| Publisher visit | Yes — open original |
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Illustration: Quentin Blake/The GuardianView image in fullscreen Illustration: Quentin Blake/The GuardianChildren and teenagers‘I am very serious about being silly’: children’s illustrators on the art of storytellingFrom The Twits to The Gruffalo and an angry bear in search of his hat… Quentin Blake, Cressida Cowell, Axel Sheffler, Lauren Child and more reveal how they bring children’s books to lifeStuart HeritageSat 30 May 2026 04.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleSpread across a sprawling 17th-century industrial complex in London’s Clerkenwell, the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, which opens next month, is being billed as the largest institution of its kind anywhere in the world: a permanent national home for an art form that shapes everything from children’s books and…
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