Unique Illustrations & Artworks Auctioned to Benefit House of Illustration

On 13th December, Sotheby’s London will offer for sale over 40 original illustrations by leading artists, designers, and musicians to benefit House of Illustration.

The pieces offered for sale fall into a number of different sections including “What Are You Like?” (autobiographical drawings by leading cultural figures), Quentin Blake’s illustrations of Sophie and the BFG at St Pancras International station, and original drawings of the Famous Five commissioned to celebrate the series’ 70th anniversary.

Artists include Quentin Blake, Brian Eno, Eric Clapton, Oliver Jeffers, Emma Chichester Clark, Peter Capaldi, David Shrigley, Peter Brooks, Peter Blake, Paul Smith, and Margaret Howell.

A registered charity, House of Illustration is the UK's only public gallery dedicated solely to illustration, with a creative programme of exhibitions, talks and events. Founded by Sir Quentin Blake and opened in July 2014 at the heart of the King's Cross regeneration area, it is the place to see, learn about and enjoy illustration in all its forms. For more information, click here. Ahead of the sale, all the works will be on display at Sotheby’s 34-35 New Bond Street from 9-12 December 2016.

Original drawings by Quentin Blake showing the BFG in London at St Pancras Station Quentin Blake, “The BFG and Sophie in London I, II and III”, each est. £1,500-2,000.

“What are you Like?” Autobiographical Drawings by Leading Artists, Designers, and Musicians

In 2008 The House of Illustration invited people from many disciplines to express themselves visually by playing "What Are You Like?". This was a Victorian parlour game in which players were asked to describe themselves by doing a series of drawings of their favourite things.

Contributors were asked to illustrate eight favourite things from a list of twelve-their favourite animal, book, clothes, comfort, food, pastime, place, possession, music, shoes, weather and their pet aversion. They were encouraged to use whatever medium they most enjoy.

Browse all 31 works here (lots 233-263).

Brian Eno,'WHAT ARE YOU LIKE?' Est. £1,000-1,500

Brian Eno is a British musician, composer, record producer, singer, writer, and visual artist. Described as one of popular music’s most influential and innovative figures, he was a member of Roxy Music in the 1970s and has collaborated with numerous artists including David Byrne, David Bowie, Coldplay, and James Blake.

Peter Brookes, 'WHAT ARE YOU LIKE?' Est £1,500-2,000

Peter Brookes is the multi-award-winning political cartoonist for The Times, a post he has held since 1992. He has contributed to many other magazines, including The Spectator, Radio Times, The Times Literary Supplement and the New Statesman.

Quentin Blake, 'WHAT ARE YOU LIKE?' Est. £3,000-5,000

Quentin Blake is a world-renowned, multi-award-winning British illustrator who has written and illustrated over 300 books, including some of the greatest children’s books of the last fifty years. He was the UK’s first Children’s Laureate and is the founding trustee of House of Illustration.

Peter Capaldi,'WHAT ARE YOU LIKE?', Est. £1,500-2,000

Peter Capaldi is a BAFTA-award-winning British actor, writer and director. He is best known for being the twelfth and current actor to play the Doctor in the BBC TV series Doctor Who, and for the role of Malcolm Tucker in the BBC comedy series The Thick of It.

Paul Smith, WHAT ARE YOU LIKE?' Est. £1,000-1,500

Paul Smith is a renowned British designer with a global design brand. In 2011, he was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design award at the British Fashion Awards for his exceptional contribution to the British fashion industry.

David Shrigley, 'WHAT ARE YOU LIKE?' Est. 2,000-3,000

David Shrigley is an award-winning British artist whose sculpture ‘Really Good’ was unveiled as the Fourth Plinth Commission in London’s Trafalgar Square in 2016. He was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 2013 and his work is included in prominent international collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Art Institute of Chicago and Tate London.

Eric Clapton, 'WHAT ARE YOU LIKE?', Est. £2,000-3,000

Eric Clapton is a world-renowned guitarist, singer and songwriter, widely considered one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time. Eric Clapton has won 18 Grammy awards and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

Peter Blake, 'WHAT ARE YOU LIKE?', Est. £2,500-3,500

Peter Blake is a world-renowned British artist and pioneer of 'Pop Art'. One of his best-known works is the 1967 album cover for The Beetles’ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In 1981 he was elected a member of the Royal Academy and in 1994 he was made the Third Associate Artist of the National Gallery.

Margaret Howell, 'WHAT ARE YOU LIKE?', Est. £800-1,200

Margaret Howell is a world-renowned British clothing designer. She was elected a Royal Designer for Industry in 2007.

The Typescript for “Doctor Who: Into the Dalek”, Est. £2,000-3,000

Illustrated with a Drawing by Peter Capaldi, Dr Who Himself The actor Peter Capaldi (b. 1958) was revealed as the twelfth incarnation of Doctor Who during August 2013 and his performances have been enthusiastically received (‘all the hallmarks of a great Doctor’, ‘the air of the classic Doctor’ and ‘wise and thoughtful’). “Into the Dalek” is the second episode of Capaldi’s first series, and his first story involving Daleks. First broadcast on 30 August 2014, it was given positive reviews. The Independent called the episode ‘a classic sci-fi adventure with all the spectacle of a blockbuster’.

Original Illustrations for the covers of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five

In 2012, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Enid Blyton's much-loved Famous Five series, five of the most illustrious children's illustrators of today were asked to provide new special anniversary covers for the first five adventures in the series. These original artworks were published by Hodder Children's Books for the 70th anniversary edition. Please click here to see all five illustrations (lots 294-298).

House of Illustration is a registered charity which receives no public funding and depends on its admission price and the generosity of its supporters to put on exhibitions, to commission new illustration work, promote new illustration talent and to run its illustrator-led learning programme for schools, families, students and enthusiasts of all ages. 

houseofillustration.org.uk. @illustrationHQ