John Yeoman wrote his first children's book after leaving Cambridge University, where he read English. This began a collaboration with Quentin Blake which has continued for over forty years. John taught for twenty-eight years, before retiring to spend more time writing, reading and relaxing in France.

Quentin Blake was born in Sidcup on the outskirts of London in 1932. He had his first drawing published in the magazine Punch exactly sixty years ago, and he has been drawing ever since. He took a degree in English Literature at Cambridge before going on to life classes at Chelsea School of Art.

He taught at the Royal College of Art for twenty years and for several years was head of the Illustration Department. He has written and illustrated books of his own, and has collaborated with writers such as Michael Rosen, Russell Hoban and John Yeoman. He is probably best known for his having illustrated all the books for children by Roald Dahl.

He has also illustrated classic works such as A Christmas Carol, Don Quixote, and Candide.He has also produced many pictures for hospitals and other public spaces. In 2013 he was knighted for his services to illustrators, and in 2014 appointed a Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur. He lives in London and Hastings.

Quentin Blake has been drawing ever since he can remember. He taught illustration for over twenty years at the Royal College of Art, of which he is an honorary professor.

He has won many prizes, including the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration, the Eleanor Farjeon Award and the Kate Greenaway Medal, and in 1999 he was appointed the first Children’s Laureate.

In the 2013 New Year’s Honours List he was knighted for services to illustration.