I noticed Bankside Gallery when we were walking back from the Tate, a South Bank spot advertising free exhibits, original art, and affordable prices. I was curious about what might be in there, at a small gallery in the shadow of the Tate, and we decided to take a quick peek.
We were with our two boys, who'd had their fill of art, so this was a real in-and-out situation. To our delight, though, we walked into an exhibit of new drawings by illustrator Quentin Blake. I didn't know him by name before we walked in, but I recognized his work as soon as I saw it. He's illustrated over 300 children's books, including 18 titles by Roald Dahl. Our six-year-old has been making his way through Roald Dahl's books, so this was pretty exciting for all of us (well, I guess our three-year-old didn't care).
The space was pleasant and nicely laid out, and it was easy to make our way through and look at all the drawings. Several of them had sold already, but several were still available, and while the prices were a bit high for vacation souvenirs, they seemed affordable by art world standards. (Looking at the gallery's website, it's clear that a lot of the work they exhibit is in fact quite affordable.) Quentin Blake has apparently been exhibiting at Bankside Gallery for several years, with proceeds going to the newly opened Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration.
Bankside Gallery is well worth a visit if you're walking along South Bank. It's a quick stop where you can see interesting art, and you might stumble onto something really wonderful. read more