Quentin's 'Birthday Wings' drawings take flight at Bonhams

Birds are an abundant source of inspiration for Quentin, and he has created hundreds of cockatoos, parakeets and other birds over his nearly 80-year career.  "I have liked birds – to look at and to draw – ever since I was a child; and more recently I have found that if you need an extra note of colour, a small parrot or cockatoo is very useful" he says.

Bonhams are delighted to present 'Birthday Wings: A Fundraising Sale for Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration', which comprises of 21 lots by Quentin Blake.  Quentin turned 93 in December and over his birthday weekend and beyond he worked on this series of new drawings depicting characters and winged creatures in various modes of flight. 

The online auction marks the opening of Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, the UK's only permanent place for illustration, which opens its doors to the public on Friday 5 June 2026. The charity was founded in 2002 by Quentin and previously presented and toured exhibitions from the smaller House of Illustration galleries in Kings Cross, London. The new Centre, located in Clerkenwell within an 18th Century waterworks, will house a permanent space to exhibit items loaned from Quentin's 40,000-work archive and offer a dynamic, distinctive programme of exhibitions, alongside illustration-based community and learning programmes that unlock the power of visual storytelling. Each of these drawings will be auctioned to help support this wonderful cause.

Viewing is by appointment only Monday-Friday from 1 June, at Bonhams Knightsbridge saleroom.

Bidding is open now and runs until Wednesday 10 June.  Bids begin closing at 12.00 BST.   Register to bid on Bonhams website