Illustrator Quentin Blake wins award

Quentin Blake wins 2011 Prince Philip Designers Prize

Design Week (excerpt)

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 | By Angus Montgomery

Illustrator Quentin Blake has been awarded the 2011 Prince Philip Designers Prize.

Quentin Blake

Blake’s first published drawings appeared in Punch when he was 16 and he is most famous for his illustrations of Roald Dahl’s books.

He has also created illustrations for children’s authors [Russell Hoban], Michael Rosen, and Joan Aiken, as well as Dickens and Lear, and has also created his own characters, including Mister Magnolia, Mrs Armitage and Clown.

Blake, who also headed the Royal College of Art’s illustration department from 1978 to 1986, said last night, ’Illustration wants to belong in the design world. I hope this award may be a stiumulus to young illustrators ....’

In his speech last night, Prince Philip told the crowd, ’Go on designing - go on designing different and challenging things. Someone may think you are doing it right.’

Quentin Blake drew a portrait of Prince Philip, which was presented to HRH.