Quentin's rainbows in online auction for the NHS
Thursday 14th May 2020
‘Quentin Blake Draws the Rainbow brings to Bonhams London auction house the ten new 'rainbow' drawings created during the lockdown period, which take the colourful rainbows he has seen in people’s windows as inspiration. Initially created for people to share online as e-cards, the original drawings are now being auctioned to raise money for NHS Charities Together, with all proceeds going directly to this very important cause.
Quentin says: ‘It seems like a time when a few straightforward jokes might not come amiss; so that as I know that people have been putting rainbows into their windows to express solidarity, I took the liberty of borrowing them. You will see that I have supposed that they are real and portable, and I hope they are optimistic too.’ The rainbows in his drawings become three-dimensional objects: in one, a man delivers a rainbow on a trolley, and another uses it as a colourful hairstyle. The images express not only the characters’ delight in the rainbow itself, but everyday pleasures: walking on a breezy day, the bond of affection with a dog, the view from a roof, a treat on the table or a cosy place to read.’
Place bids online at www.bonhams.com - bidding is open until 1300 BST on Wednesday 3 June