Blake is best known for his illustrations in Roald Dahl novels

His drawings - many of them for Roald Dahl's children's books - are on show at the Harris Museum in Preston.

Blake's first published illustration was carried in Punch in 1949, while he was still at school.

He said he had been delighted at the time, but had no idea it would lead to such a long career.

Speaking at the exhibition, Blake revealed: "At that age, just getting a drawing published was something very, very special.

"That was the end as far as I was concerned."

Senior exhibitions officer James Green said the exhibition was attracting double the usual number of visitors.

It is the only exhibition to display Blake's work outside the capital.

Mr Green said: "Quentin's work has been popular with generations of adults and children.

"His style is instantly familiar and his images are full of colour, inventiveness and movement."

Blake became an OBE in the 1990s and was appointed the UK's first Children's Laureate in 1999.