Quentin Blake and John Yeoman: 50 Years of Children's Books is
Collaborative works celebrated in Lady Lever Art Gallery exhibition
Quentin Blake and John Yeoman: 50 Years of Children’s Books is the first exhibition to celebrate illustrator Blake’s decades-long partnership with the author. It opens at the Lady Lever Art Gallery this autumn, running from 19 October until 3 March 2019, and will feature more than 40 works, including illustrations and books by the two.
Quentin Blake has had a number of extended collaborations with writers such as Roald Dahl, but the longest of all has been with John Yeoman. Quentin first asked Yeoman to write a book for him to illustrate in 1960. The result – A Drink of Water – sparked their artistic relationship that has lasted for more than half a century, delivering almost 50 projects in that time. Their most recent, All The Year Round, was published by Andersen Press in 2017. The original drawings for these and a further 10 projects Blake and Yeoman have worked on together – from picture books and short novels for children to adaptations of classic folk tales - will feature in the exhibition. These include:
The Boy Who Sprouted Antlers; Mouse Trouble; The Fabulous Foskett Family Circus; Quentin Blake’s Amazing Animal Stories; The World’s Laziest Duck and other Amazing Records; The Hermit and the Bear; All The Year Round, The Heron and the Crane; Sixes and Sevens; and Up with Birds.
Dave Moffatt, Assistant Curator of Decorative Arts at the Lady Lever, said;
“Quentin Blake and John Yeoman’s work is familiar to many – theirs is a unique and special partnership, beautifully celebrated through the images and publications that make up 50 Years of Children’s Books. Adult visitors will have grown up with Yeoman’s amazing and fantastical tales, illustrated by Quentin Blake in his immediately recognisable style. The worlds they created continue to fire imaginations as the recent re-printing of their first project, A Drink of Water, originally published just over half a century ago shows”.
Quentin Blake and John Yeoman: 50 Years of Children’s Books was created by House of Illustration, the UK’s only public gallery dedicated to illustration and graphic art.
The exhibition is accompanied by an exciting public programme of free activities for all ages.
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/fiftyyears #QuentinBlake #JohnYeoman
Notes to Editors
About the Lady Lever Art Gallery
The Lady Lever Art Gallery houses one of the UK’s greatest collections of fine and decorative art.
Its foundation stone was laid on 25 March 1914 by King George V. Building works were delayed by the First World War and the Gallery wasn’t opened until 16 December 1922. The collection of outstanding treasures put together by William Hesketh Lever, first Viscount Leverhulme, boasts paintings dating from the mid-15th to early 20th century, including masterpieces by Gainsborough, Turner and Constable and a stunning Pre-Raphaelite collection.
In 2016 an extensive programme of restoration and improvement saw the South End of the Gallery returned to their original architectural design and more than 1,500 objects re-displayed. Visitors can enjoy the best collection of Wedgwood jasperware in the world, one of the finest collections of Chinese porcelain in Europe, and outstanding 18th century paintings, furniture and sculpture.
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about - from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk @heritagelottery
About National Museums Liverpool
National Museums Liverpool comprises eight venues, including some of the most visited museums in England outside of London. Our collections are among the most important and varied in Europe and contain everything from Impressionist paintings and rare beetles to a lifejacket from the Titanic. We attract more than 3.3 million visitors every year. Our venues are the Museum of Liverpool, World Museum, the Walker Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, Seized! (UK Border Force National Museum), Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery.
National Museums Liverpool is regulated by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Museums and galleries regulated by DCMS are exempt charities under Schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011. Registered Office: World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EN.
About the House of Illustration
House of Illustration is the UK’s only public gallery dedicated to illustration and graphic art. A registered charity, House of Illustration supports and promotes new talent, commissions new work and has a pioneering learning programme delivered by professional illustrators. It was established in 2002 by Sir Quentin Blake with Emma Chichester Clarke and a group of leading illustrators. Prior to its opening in in Kings’s Cross in 2014, House of Illustration hosted exhibitions and events at venues including the British Library, Dulwich Picture Gallery and Somerset House.