London

South Kensington is your local manor, isn’t it?

Yes, I’ve lived here since 1970 at least, though I’ve lived in London since, ooh, 1960, I suppose. I first came here because I heard you could buy a flat with large rooms, and that’s what I did buy – well, fairly large. And I taught at the Royal College of Art for 20 years, which is just up the road, and that was important. This area has definitely become posher over the years and it’s also more international. I look on to a garden square and it’s much better looked after than it was: it’s got the proper railings back and everything. The neighbours are all French and American now, as well as English, and there seem to be more children, which makes the place more alive. Feature continues

Is it true that you have three flats in the same block?
Yes, that’s right. One is the flat that I live in, and that’s where I do all the illustration; there’s another one where I have my archive; and there’s one that is where I do painting and drawing… Actually, I don’t know whether we should be mentioning this because they’re residential flats.

You’ve never considered just moving to a bigger place…?

Oh no! I moved 30 years ago and that was such a nightmare. I can remember the chap from the removals company saying ‘Good heavens, we’re going to have to ring up for reinforcements.’ I look round and think: My God, do I need all this to live with? There are too many books, do you see? Too many pictures – there are 5,000 drawings! You don’t want to move too often.

Do you think the London landscape has found its way into your books?

I think it has to have. Of course, it’s easier in a way to do rural surroundings because you can put the trees where you want them, and they look decorative in the background. But that book I was talking about , ‘Clown’ – when I started to write it I was very interested to find that it was set in urban surroundings, some smart and some not smart at all. And similarly I did a book recently called ‘Michael Rosen’s Sad Book’. Mike Rosen is from east London, so it’s supposed to have a slight flavour of Mile End Road, there’s definitely London in it. I’m pleased to find it when it comes naturally into what I’m doing.

These days people have started referring to you as a national treasure. How does that feel?

It is very strange. I find it quite hard to get my mind round that. It’s terribly nice for me, but the trouble is I forget about it in-between times. Most of the time, I’m just sort of thinking: Oh Christ, I haven’t finished the next job… It’s surprising how many things there are still to do.

‘The Twits’ is at the Artsdepot until January 7. Artsdepot, 5 Nether St, Tally Ho Corner, N12 (020 8369 5454/www.artsdepot.co.uk). Tickets £12.50, children and concs £10, family ticket (admits four) £38.