The House of Illustration (HOI), a gallery devoted to the art genre, has opened this week at Kings Cross in London. The much loved illustrator Quentin Blake is the subject of the first exhibit, which is titled Inside Stories.

Finding a place to call home has been a long process for the HOI, a charity that was set up in 2002 by a group of British illustrators including Blake. Since its establishment, HOI has presented touring exhibits, pioneered educational programmes and collected and preserved illustrated artworks. More than a decade later, it has a permanent space inside an old Victorian office building in Granary Square to show its collection and special exhibitions.

Architects Witherford Watson Mann designed the HOI galleries and the venue’s education centre, shop and office space. The RIBA Stirling prize-winning firm aimed to create spaces that felt homely, as well as having a sense of the gallery.

The Inside Stories exhibition is an opportunity for fans of Blake’s work to see original illustrations for books by Roald Dahl, David Walliams and Michael Rosen. From November, an exhibit of artworks by Paula Rego and Honoré Daumier will be held at the Granary Square gallery.

“Illustration has been one of the most distinctive strands in the history of British art and I’m delighted that there will now be a dedicated space where everyone can view, discuss or learn about illustration; British and international; past, present and future,” said Blake, who officially opened the gallery.