Roald Dahl/Quentin Blake featured at Eden Gallery in Lichfield

ROALD DAHL was born in Wales in 1916, to Norwegian parents. After a distinguished career as a fighter pilot and diplomat during the Second World War, he settled down to become a fulltime author, first writing popular stories for adults, then, later retelling many of the stories he made up at bedtime for his own children.

The first book ROALD DAHL and illustrator QUENTIN BLAKE worked upon together was The Enormous Crocodile. The two soon became firm friends, cementing one of the most eye-catching and distinctive collaborations in children’s literature. ROALD DAHL died in 1990. His work has been published in over 40 languages and today is considered a modern classic.

QUENTIN BLAKE was born in 1932, and has drawn ever since he can remember. His first drawing was published in ‘Punch’ when he was just 16. He has always made his living as an illustrator, as well as teaching for over twenty years at the Royal College of Art. His books have won numerous prizes and awards. In 1999, he was appointed the first ever Children’s Laureate. QUENTIN BLAKE was created CBE in 2005 and received a knighthood for ‘services to illustration’, in 2013.