Blake graduated from the RCA in 1956 having also completed his National Service. He received the Leverhulme Research Award to study popular art whilst traveling Europe and went on to teach for several years at various London Art Schools, all the while working and exhibiting. His first solo show was held in the Portal Gallery in 1962 and since the early 70s his work has regularly been exhibited in one-man shows and retrospectives around the world.
Blake became a Royal Academician in 1981, a CBE in 1983 and in 2002 Blake received a knighthood for his services to art. Retrospectives of Blake's work were held at the Tate in 1983 and Tate Liverpool in 2008.