Feeling the heat at yet another sunny Herne Bay Cartoon Festival

You might argue that in this record summer the sun was always going to shine on the 2018 Herne Bay Cartoon Festival. But at the time of writing it is chucking it down with rain, so the festival still seems to be somewhat blessed. Perhaps the gods of weather are all fans of funny and clever live cartooning.

Photos © Kasia Kowalska unless otherwise stated

We've arrived: The Herne Bay town crier announces this year's cartoonists
We’ve arrived: The Herne Bay town crier announces this year’s cartoonists

The cartoonists who took part on Sunday (5 August) were: Nathan Ariss, Andrew Birch, Dave Brown, Des Buckley, Chris Burke, Pete Dredge, Clive Goddard, Alex Hallatt, Tim Harries, Alex Hughes, Kathryn Lamb, Glenn Marshall, Lou McKeever, Rob Murray, Royston Robertson, Martin Rowson, Cathy Simpson, Rich Skipworth, The Surreal McCoy and Steve Way.

Watch this space: Alex Hallatt begins work. The cartoonists battled the heat to produce 6ft tall big board and peep board cartoons
Watch this space: Alex Hallatt, visiting from New Zealand, begins. Cartoonists battled the heat to produce 6ft big board and peep board cartoons
Nice day for it: Nathan Ariss at work in his board, left. Martin Rowson seems to be done
Nice day for it: Nathan Ariss at work in his board, left. Martin Rowson’s Brexit board appears to be finished. Photo © Fiona Hayes
Clive and Amy Goddard produced on the #MeToo theme that paid tribute Donald McGill, king of the seaside postcard
Saucy stuff: Clive Goddard and Amy Amani-Goddard paint a board that pays tribute to Donald McGill, king of the seaside postcard
Caricatures are always hugely popular. Alex Hughes and the team worked tirelessly for five hours
Here’s looking at you: Caricatures are always popular, with neverending queues. Alex Hughes and the team worked tirelessly. Photo © Gerard Whyman
Stars of the stage: Cathy Simpson and Pete Dredge caricaturing
Cathy Simpson and Pete Dredge caricaturing on the stage. It was a little cooler there, which may explain the expression on the face of shorts-wearing Pete
Karol Steele and family, who attend every year, are happy customers once more
Karol Steele and family, who attend every year, are happy customers once more
Strike a pose: Cartoonists Alex Hallatt, Kathryn Lamb, Cathy Simpson, The Surreal McCoy and Lou "Bluelou" McKeever
Strike a pose: Cartoonists Alex Hallatt, Kathryn Lamb, Cathy Simpson, The Surreal McCoy and Lou “Bluelou” McKeever
Rich Skipworth's take on plastic in the oceans. Kathryn Lamb drew a compilation of gag cartoons on #MeToo and #TimesUp
Different strokes: Rich Skipworth tackles plastic in the oceans while Kathryn Lamb draws a compilation of gag cartoons on #MeToo and #TimesUp
Andrew Birch adds detail to his Perseus and Medusa big board
Snakes on a pier: Andrew Birch adds detail to his Perseus and Medusa peep board. Photo © Gerard Whyman
Cover up: Tim Harries found the weather a bit much. He's from Wales
Cover up: Tim Harries finds the weather a bit much. He is from South Wales
A different picture: Steve Way produced a peep board on the controversial Video Assistant Referee
A different picture: Steve Way presents his landscape peep board on the controversial World Cup video assistant referee. Photo © Fiona Hayes
The public board, for kids young and old, is also a key part of the event. This year it was run by Lou McKeever
Big draw: The public board, for kids young and old, is also a key part of the festival. This year it was run by Lou McKeever. Photo © Gerard Whyman
Lou brought along her remote control Trump hair, which was a big hit
Lou brought along her remote control Trump hair, which was a big hit
As usual Glenn Marshall painted a backdrop for his own art happening before a swift costume change ...
As usual Glenn Marshall painted a backdrop for his own unique art happening. Photo © Gerard Whyman. Then there was a swift costume change …
... to become Mystic Marshall, reader of minds and fortunes. Possibly.
… to become Mystic Marshall, reader of minds and fortunes. Possibly
Surreal McCoy took a look at some endangered species with her big board
Animal magic: The Surreal McCoy takes a look at some endangered species. Photo © Karol Steele
Royston Robertson'a Judy declared #TimesUp. Des Buckley wilts in the heat.
We two: Royston Robertson’s Judy tells Mr Punch that #TimesUp, while Des Buckley wilts in the heat. Photo right © Gerard Whyman
Chris Burke's King Canute David Attenborough attempts to hold back the wave of plastic
Canute’s you: Chris Burke’s Sir David Attenborough attempts to hold back the wave of plastic in the oceans
... Rob Murray took a collage approach to the same theme
 Rob Murray took a collage approach to the same topical theme, sticking plastic bottles to his cartoon. Photo © Gerard Whyman
Finished board by the Guardian political cartoonist Martin Rowson
Pointed satire: Finished board by Guardian political cartoonist Martin Rowson
It wouldn't be Herne Bay without a big board from the Independent's Dave Brown
Bigly board: It wouldn’t be Herne Bay Cartoon Festival without a cartoon from the Independent’s Dave Brown
As has become traditional, the cartoonists rounded off the day with a carousel ride. Left to right: Nathan Ariss, Steve Way and Des Buckley
What goes round: As has become traditional, the day ended with a carousel ride. Left to right, big kids Nathan Ariss, Steve Way and Des Buckley

You can see more by visiting @HBCartoonFest on Twitter or Facebook.com/ HBCartoonFest.

Herne Bay Cartoon Festival is sponsored by the Professional Cartoonists Organisation and supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

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