How Illustrator Quentin Blake’s Unique Artwork Will Help Improve Life in Halifax


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Sir Quentin Blake KBE, best known for his distinctive illustrations in Roald Dahl’s books, donated a one-of-a-kind drawing to help raise funds for Artworks, a teaching space, gallery and studios for ‘artists in Halifax,

His work is synonymous with the books of Roald Dahl and he has also illustrated children’s books for David Williams and Dr Seuss, as well as those he wrote himself.

And now he’s donated a unique artwork to support a popular Calderdale community arts organization to help them continue their mission of mental health and wellness.

Read more: A giant grass painting to celebrate the children materializes on a Yorkshire hill.

The Halifax-based The Artworks is an educational space, gallery and artist studios that have been significantly affected during the pandemic. Its director John Ross, was one of Blake’s students.

Entitled The Collector, the coin Blake donated features a man walking down a hill with his dogs and an overflowing backpack.

Blake, who joined Artworks as a Patron in 2017, said: “I draw almost every day of the year and really appreciate the profound effect it can have on mental health and general well-being. , especially during times of conflict.

“Artworks aims to connect as many people as possible with the healing powers of art and inspire the next generation of artists.

“It is a privilege to be associated with such an inspiring institution and I am delighted to be able to help the organization continue its important work during these difficult times.”

The philosophy of the works of art is to be open to all and to defend the value of art and creativity in everyday life. Over the years, a key focus of their work has been to use art to support mental health and well-being.

The organization runs a creative activities program designed to connect people to art in its various forms, including free and subsidized workshops for people with lived experience of mental illness and those with low incomes.

Mr Ross, the director of artwork, said the donation would go a long way to supporting the Halifax-based art project which will continue to be accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances, during a difficult year. .

He said: “Like so many organizations in our industry, 2020 has been a very difficult year for our school for all obvious reasons and our future is far from secure.

“A huge thank you then to Quentin for donating this important drawing to Artworks which will hopefully enable us to raise essential funds in this desperate time.”

The original drawing will be auctioned off privately, while twenty-five signed prints from The Collector will be offered for sale on the Artworks website, along with the opportunity to win a signed print in a style contest. raffle. here.

Sir Quentin Blake is recognized as one of Britain’s greatest living artists.

He became Britain’s first winner for children from 1999 to 2001, and also won the Hans Christian Andersen Prize, the highest honor available to creators of children’s books.

In the 1970s, he occasionally hosted the Jackanory children’s storytelling program, when he illustrated the stories on canvas as he told them.

Blake has also illustrated books of poetry by Michael Rosen and created his own characters, including Mister Magnolia and Mrs. Armitage.

For the past fifteen years, his work has moved into public space: he has drawn murals for hospitals all over London as well as in Sheffield.

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