Beautiful views at Whitchurch Canonicorum

Just returned from camping in deepest dorset, behind 'the five bells' pub in Whitchurch Canonicorum. We had a great time. (why go abroad when the weathers like this!). Visited some of my favourite places in Lyme Regis and Bridport, and went for some lovely walks, PHEW was it hot! Thanks to Pat, Stacey and Paul for being so hospitalable. Most enjoyable! I'll be back again soon no doubt. And good to meet the locals when watching the england game on Wednesday..hello to 'Millsey' master cheese maker and the other lads and lasses.

This is our little encampment..Not bad! with the whole field to ourselves, peace and tranquility!

As you can see, we had as Johnnie Kingdom would say, ' bootiful voos!'

Young Tilly was loving it with a massive field as her temporary back garden!

This is the view of the church and village.

Not far from where we were camped you can see Lyme regis in the background.

Views from camp site.

On the way into Lyme, (trevor's old place in the background)

The old favourite...'Golden Cap'and here the 'Guildhall' in Lyme Regis.

Night time for Tilly.

'Voo' of my shoos!

Sunset at about 9.45pm!

A walk amongst the daisies...mmm that sounds like an inspiration for a new al hayball painting.

On the way to bridport, via Ryall.

Wimborne folk festival 2010

These are some of the photos Siouxsie took at this weekend of me caricaturing, in front of the 'Allendale centre at Wimborne Folk Festival' which was terrific and was most enjoyable. Hello! to all of you that came along and had a caricature drawn or bought a print, card or tile. Thanx!

till and jod

Just trying the photoshop effect on a photo .
(Meant to look like a van gogh..didn't quite work!)
click on it to see it clearer.

A pencil study of 'Matilda Whiplington'

Limited edition prints are available on my website: alan hayball
She is a bedlington whippet cross, lurcher. 18 weeks old.

Caricaturing at Weddings

A letter from another satisfied customer... ...a reminder, I'm available for weddings, funerals and barmitsfas!

I was drawing caricatures the other week at a wedding on board the 'HMS Warrior' on Portsmouth Dock.
This is the letter from the bride to my agent, Its really nice to get this appreciation:

Hello Ben,
I just wanted to write and thank Alan Hayball for helping make our wedding so entertaining. He was a real hit with the guests and produced a great picture of me and my husband! I have attached a couple of pics for your pleasure. I'd appreciate it if you could pass this onto Alan for us.
Best wishes & thanks again, Alex

Henley-on-Thames Craft show

'Man and dog' at work! This was at the weekend, caricaturing at the show.



..and look at that cosy place for Tilly underneath the table.

Strange to be woken up by a strange shadowy shape like this in the morning!

Bedlington whippet cross

My Lurcher. Took some snaps tonight, that I was really pleased with. It shows Till is turning into quite a stunner..( I'm biased of course! lol)

Also had her own business card made up! (sad):
This is ‘Matilda Whiplington’. A Bedlington Terrier x Whippet originally bred as a poaching dog or ferret companion, it is a brave little dog, not for the faint hearted, being high energy, busy and intelligent and not as laid back as other Lurcher crosses. 17” to 19” tts in size, blue or liver colour, usually rough coated. (A 'Lurcher' is the result of cross breeding a sighthound, with another breed such as a collie or a terrier.)

Tilly 15 weeks whippet x bedlington

Tilly 13 weeks

"Can't seem to do anything with my ears today...
...and no you can't have my stick."