Painter, draughtsman, printmaker and teacher, born in Birmingham, son of a silversmith. Attended Moseley Road Junior School of Arts and Crafts there, 1930–3, winning many prizes and a scholarship to Central School of Arts and Crafts/College of Art, 1933–40. Won an exhibition to Royal College of Art, 1941–2, where gained many prizes and scholarships. Held a series of teaching posts, including senior lecturer in drawing and painting at Gloucestershire College of Art, 1954–81. Showed with RA, RE, RBSA, RBA and RWA. Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, a number of other provincial galleries and Victoria & Albert Museum hold his work. Ball’s etching Mr Everitt, a Birmingham Tram Conductor, of 1936, is in the collection of the City Museum and Art Gallery, was included in its 1990 show The Birmingham School and was praised by J B Priestley in his book English Journey.