MUST DO: Quentin Blake Gallery now open

Did you grow up absorbed by Quentin Blake’s brilliant visuals in Roald Dahl’s classic children’s books such as The Twits or Fantastic Mr Fox? Or maybe you were hooked on David Walliams’ more recent The Boy in the Dress? Either way, the UK’s only public gallery dedicated solely to illustration has just launched a permanent Quentin Blake Gallery.

Seven Kinds Of Magic is its inaugural show and will explore the influential artist’s approach to magic and surrealism. Curated by the man himself, who turns a mighty 84 this year, it explores his varied depictions of magic both in his own books and in those of other writers such as Russell Hoban and John Yeoman.

It displays illustrations from seven very different books, including Blake’s first ever picture book Patrick, which was published in 1968, the Dahl classic The Witches and J. B. S. Haldane’s My Friend Mr Leakey.

The gallery is the only place in the world where fans can see a continuous exhibition of original artwork by Blake, as it will draw on his personal archive of thousands of illustrations and preparatory drawings. Oh, and don’t forget the BFG in Pictures, which also runs in the South Gallery this summer.