The BFG comes to North Herts

An exhibition of Quentin Blake’s illustrations for Roald Dahl’s The BFG has arrived at North Herts Museum, with free admission in time for half-term this week.

Roald Dahl’s story about an orphan called Sophie and her giant friend – the Big Friendly Giant – has been read by children all over the world since 1982. For this exhibition, Quentin Blake selected 40 works from his archive that show how he developed the illustrations for the book and how he has reimagined the BFG since. So join us for a big, friendly adventure until 23 April – an average visit lasts 30 minutes.

From initial illustrations that didn’t make it to publication to Blake’s drawings to mark Roald Dahl’s centenary, the exhibition gives a unique insight into the pair’s closest collaboration and the creation of one of British children’s literature’s iconic characters.

‘The BFG in Pictures’ from the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration and curated by Quentin Blake himself is suitable for all ages and will include:

• display of artworks
• drawing wall so you can create your own BFG following instructions from Quentin Blake
• dressing-up outfits so children can enjoy dressing up as the BFG or main character Sophie
• fantastic colour-changing dream jars.

Ros Allwood, Cultural Services Manager at North Herts Council, said: “We are so excited to have the BFG come to visit us in Hitchin. Please join us for a look into the world of Quentin Blake’s illustration. Whatever your age, you don’t want to miss out on this wonderful exhibition on your doorstep.”

Quentin Blake said: “Roald Dahl and I were brought together by our publisher in the 1970s. Roald was an extraordinarily interesting person and a man of action, which is why he was so good at telling stories. He liked to tell stories about things happening, rather than about what people were thinking or feeling, which was wonderful for me to draw. Roald’s The BFG was first published by Jonathan Cape in 1982 in a hardback edition for which I did black-and-white illustrations and a design in colour for the cover. Since then, the BFG and Sophie have appeared in a variety of books and situations. For this exhibition I have selected images from different versions of the BFG, starting with my first illustrations which remained unpublished for thirty years.”

North Herts Museum is located in Brand Street, Hitchin, open Tue-Sat 10.30am-4.30pm and Sun 11am-3pm, and general admission and this exhibition is free.

For more information check out @northhertsmusuem on Facebook and Instagram, @nhertsmuseum on Twitter, visit the North Herts Museum website or call 01462 474554.

You can also follow Quentin Blake’s work on Twitter and Instagram @qbcentre #BFGinPictures.