SIR Quentin Blake has become the first artist patron of the Jerwood Art Gallery in Hastings.

He has a long association with the gallery and has been a high-profile supporter since 2012 when it first opened to the public.

He has exhibited four times at, what is effectively, his local art gallery - based as it is, just a short walk from his home in Hastings Old Town.

Blake’s Moonlight Travellers is available to see at Jerwood until April 15.

He said: “What I could never have imagined is that someone would build an art gallery at the end of my road which is within walking distance, that’s wonderful, and it’s such a nice art gallery as well.

“It’s absolutely what one could wish.”