Peter Blake grew up in Kent, UK as a son of an electrician. He also had a younger brother and sister. His education  got on hold when his family evacuated during the second World War. When he was 14 years old he studied at Gravesend Technical College Junior Art School where he learned creative foundations such as life drawing skills, typography and joinery. There he was introduced to fine art and classical music. He also became interested in jazz clubs, football, speedway and wrestling.
Self portrait with badges (1961)
When he was 17 he had a serious cycling accident which changed the way he looked. He lost 4 teeth and had 35 stiches. He decided to grew a beard to hide the scars, which he has had ever since. Blake went to the Royal College Of Art to learn painting by Ruskin Spear who was inspired by Dada art. Since 1954 he started his career as popart painter. At the end of his studies, Blake was granted a scholarship to travel for a year. He attended bullfights, football and wrestling matches and even traveled with the circus for a couple of weeks. He returned in in 1957. Blake got various jobs teaching art and drawing.
On The Balcony (1957)
Blake began mixing in with the social circles that would come to produce Pop art. In 1958 he attended a dinner party hosted by Lawrence Alloway, an art critic and important member of the independent group of growing British Pop artists that originated at the Institute of Contemporary Art in London. Alloway was probably the first person to use the term popart. In 1961 Blake was included in the "Young Contemporaries" exhibition at London's Whitechapel Gallery. The show was vital in launching the careers of several younger members of the Pop art scene and Blake's work was shown alongside that of David Hockney and RB Kitaj. In the same year he received the John Moores prize and his work was consequently featured in the first edition of the Sunday Times color supplement.
Peter Blake in the middle (1967)
Peter Blake received wide attention from the art world and he was introduced to the public in 1962 on a TV show called "Pop Goes The Easel". His work was made famous with the help of notorious art dealer Robert Fraser who was also arrested these days with Mick Jagger because of the possession of drugs. Fraser then became introduced to Paul McCartney who hired him to create the well known cover for the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". They paid him £200 and given no copyright or royalties on the final cover. He was helped by his wife Jann Haworth.
The First Real Target (1961)
At the end of the 60's Blake moved to Wellow (Avon) with his wife. There he formed a group called the Ruralists who were introducing a different naturalistic style of painting. Blake created many images of fantasy and myth including many works including fairies. He illustrated Lewis Carroll's "Through The Looking Glass" together with artist Graham Ovenden. He finally divorced from Jann after she began a relationship with someone else. He had 2 daughters from this marriage.
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas? (1984)
He moved back to London where he met his second wife Chrissy Wilson and spent time in Los Angeles with fellow artist David Hockney who inspired him even more. He was made a member of the Royal Academy in 1981 and in 1984 he designed the cover for the Band Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?
R Is For Rainbow (1991)
In the 90's he worked at London's National Gallery and this gave inspiration for his own art. He continued to create his art as well as doing design-based projects. Another record cover for Oasis of their best of album "Stop The Clocks" was made by him.
Some of the Sources of Pop Art 7 (2009)
In 2002 he was knighted for his services to art. Since then he was Sir Peter Blake.
The Alphabet Suites: R (2018)