Quentin Blake mural revealed at new arts centre
Quentin Blake mural revealed at new arts centre
Amy Clarke - LondonSun, May 31, 2026 at 7:22 AM UTC
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Quentin Blake's piece A Bridge to the Past explores the history of the New River, which was constructed in the 1600s to supply clean water to Clerkenwell
A new mural by Sir Quentin Blake has been unveiled in north London ahead of the opening of his a new illustration centre.
The artist has written or illustrated more than 500 books and is best known for his drawings in Roald Dahl's works.
His new work, A Bridge to the Past, explores the history of the New River - the artificial waterway built between London and Hertfordshire in the 1600s - and its relationship with the surrounding community.
Sir Quentin visited the Quentin Blake Illustration Centre in Clerkenwell to reveal the piece before the venue, where the artwork will be displayed, opens to the public on Friday.
Constructed by Sir Hugh Myddleton between 1609 and 1613, the New River was created to supply clean water from the River Lea in Hertfordshire to Clerkenwell.
According to the centre, it was not only essential infrastructure but also a source of joy and leisure for many local people.
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Sir Quentin is best known for his drawings in Roald Dahl's works
Sir Quentin's ink drawing depicts a bridge over the river, filled with figures from different eras.
"You will see that I have drawn a bridge. It does not actually exist, but I needed one to act as a bridge to the past," the artist said.
"Crossing it are folk in period costume; they are all invented by me, except for the two men fishing who are borrowed from a print made in the 1700s."
The artwork has been scaled up for display in the centre's café, measuring almost 5m (16.4ft) by 2m (6.6ft).
The first 50 visitors to the centre will be admitted for free if they draw an illustration on a voucher, which can be collected on site on the opening day.
Tickets for the three-gallery exhibition programme cost £16.50 or £6.60, and the centre on Myddelton Passage is open from 10:00 to 17:00, Wednesday to Sunday.
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