A touring exhibition from the House of Illustration, The BFG in Pictures features reproductions of Quentin Blake’s illustrations from Roald Dahl’s much-loved story. Curated by Sir Quentin Blake himself, the exhibition features 40 reproductions, including those of previously unseen and unpublished illustrations.

Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture, Cllr Mike Morey said: “This is a great opportunity to see these initial designs which were updated on close consultation with Dahl to produce the book we know today, first published in 1982.

“They provide unprecedented insight into the development of one of the most iconic characters in children’s literature and a glimpse of a BFG that might have been – all of which can be seen in the beautiful setting of Torre Abbey Museum.”

To celebrate the exhibition, Torre Abbey Museum is running a very special ‘Share your Dreams Competition’. Young Blake fans can enter to win a family ticket to our Terrific Tea Party, which will take place in the gardens of Torre Abbey after school on Thursday 20 June.

Terrific Tea Party-goers will enjoy a Dahl-icious tea of cakes and snozzcumber sandwiches washed down with a cool glass of frobscottle, then be among the first to see this ‘whoopsy whiffling’ exhibition.

In the story, the BFG catches dreams, stores them in dream jars, then blows them into the bedrooms of children around the world. To be in with a chance of winning a magic ticket, all you need to do is share your dreams with us. Think of your ultimate dream, the one you would catch if you were the BFG – the more imaginative the better.

Pop your dream into an old jar and ask your parents to drop it into Torre Abbey along with your name, age and email address (email address will only be used to contact the winners). You could draw a picture, take a photo, write a poem or short story or even get really arty and create a model to display in the jar.

All competition entries will be put on a shelf in the BFG’s cave, forming part of the exhibition, so you can see your very own dream jar when you visit.

The closing date for this fizzwiggler of a competition is 4.30pm on Friday 7 June. The competition is open to anyone under the age of 14 years.

Entry to the exhibition is included in the normal admission price for Torre Abbey Museum (which gives you access to the museum and gardens). Kids and teens enter for free all year round.

For more information go to https://www.torre-abbey.org.uk/whats-on/the-bfg-in-pictures/

For all exhibition information, images and interview requests please contact:
Katie Nairne or Rachel Stoplar at House of Illustration on 020 3696 2027 / 32. katie.nairne@houseofillustration.org.uk / rachel.stoplar@houseofillustration.org.uk

Image credit: Cover artwork for 'The BFG' (Jonathan Cape, 1982) © Quentin Blake
Listings information The BFG in Pictures