Coming up Next
Jazz Photography Exhibition: “The Space Between The Notes”
Location: Art + Grind
Opening Times: 8:00 - 17:00 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) 9:00 - 17:00 (Sunday)
An exhibition of Jazz Photographs at the Art and Grind Cafe on Guildford High Street, featuring works by John Lyons, Winner of the 2022 Abbey Road Studios award for Live Music Photography , also by Pete Johnson and local photographers.
Free entry, just pop in during opening hours for a coffee and cake and a wander through the gallery. The displayed photographs are also available for sale, please enquire at the cafe desk for details.
If you’d like some live jazz with your artworks, please visit on Sunday 28th September! Click here for details
Digitali Exhibition
Location: Art + Grind
Opening Times: 8:00 - 17:00 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) 9:00 - 17:00 (Sunday)
Digitali is a collective of four enthusiastic local photographers who share a passion for capturing the world through diverse perspectives. This is their fourth exhibition together, and each member brings a distinctive style and area of interest, making the show both varied and dynamic.
The collection includes street photography, abstract photography, land and seascapes, and tiny highspeed water drops. Visitors can expect to move from sweeping natural scenes to striking glimpses of everyday life.
Digitali’s aim is to celebrate photography in its many forms, and to share with the community the joy of seeing the world through different lenses.
https://www.digitali.click/home
The exhibitors are:
Peter Merry
Christina O’Shaughnessy
Gachou Pletts
Marilyn Taylor
Call to Artists // New House Art Space
Location: New House Art Space
Opening Times: 9:00 - 17:00 (Thursday, Friday) 9:00 - 16:00 (Saturday, Sunday)
Cafe: 8:00 - 18:00 (Thursday, Friday) 9:00 - 16:00 (Saturday, Sunday)
The Guildford Festival of the Arts sent out an Open Call for artwork to feature in our inaugural exhibition and the artist community answered in abundance! Over three hundred submissions were received, from which our panel of judges has selected pieces from ninety-seven artists from the local area and beyond to showcase across three vibrant venues in the heart of Guildford.
Newhouse Art Space - Fays Passage, Guildford GU1 4SQ
More than just a collection of artist studios, Newhouse is a vibrant creative hub for the Guildford community. Throughout the year, it hosts exhibitions, events, and workshops, welcoming people from all walks of life to come, explore, and get involved.
Our exhibition takes over every inch of the ground floor. Expect a dynamic mix of paintings, drawings, and photographs, alongside a diverse selection of sculptures and prints.
Guildford Baptist Church - Baptist Church, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BE
Nestled next to the river, Guildford Baptist Church is a beautiful space where community lies at its heart. For the festival, we’ve partnered with the church’s Open Grounds Café to showcase an array of paintings, prints, photographs, and drawings. Come in, relax with a coffee or tea, and enjoy the artwork around you in a welcoming, peaceful setting.
Jigsaw - 132–134 High Street, Guildford GU1 3HJ
Above Jigsaw, three formerly empty rooms have been brought to life as a fully-fledged gallery for four days. Two rooms will be filled with an exciting mix of sculpture, paintings, prints, drawings, and photographs, transforming the space into a lively hub of creativity where art spills from walls and easels alike.
The third room is being transformed into a dedicated screening space. Here, you can enjoy film works from our partners and makers at Sustain Film Festival, alongside captivating film pieces from talented artists selected through our open call.
Main information Centre & Community Art Project
Location: Tunsgate Quarter
Opening Times: 9:00 - 18:00
For information about the festival, come find us here!
Here you can collect brochures highlighting all our events as well as our art trail map!
Our art trail is especially exciting this year as we have teamed up with the Shepard Neame pubs in Guildford (the Star Inn and the Britannia pub) to offer you the opportunity to receive a free drink by taking part in our art trail. Make sure you get on of our stamps at our art trail locations in order to receive your free drink.
Community Art Project
Charlie Cluff, co-founder of Guildford Festival of the Arts, is a photographic/installation artist who grew up in Guildford. She studied photography in New York before moving back to the UK in Covid to finish her studies at the London College of Communication (UAL). Charlie has recently been inspired by the use of Art as a therapy and the archiving of photography. Her thesis, Photographic Memory: Exploring the relationship between therapeutic and archival practice looks at her grandfather’s archive, looking at how he balanced his life in dentistry alongside his creative practise, establishing a connection between his photographic work and her own.
More information about the project can be found here.
As part of the community art project, Charlie would like to build a similar installation to that of the one she built in memory of her grandfather. She hopes to build a photographic house from the memories of those who have photographed Guildford. The installation contains over 10,000 35mm slides and encourages those who have them at home (who don’t know what to do with them now we have entered the world of technology and instagram) to contribute them to this art installation.
If you would like to be involved feel free to contact Charlie directly: info@charliecluff.com
Call to Artists // Guildford Baptist Church
Location: Guildford Baptist Church
Opening Times: 9:00 - 16:00 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) 9:00 - 16:30 (Sunday)
Cafe: 10:00 - 16:00 (Thursday, Friday) 10:00 - 14:00 (Saturday) CLOSED (Sunday)
The Guildford Festival of the Arts sent out an Open Call for artwork to feature in our inaugural exhibition and the artist community answered in abundance! Over three hundred submissions were received, from which our panel of judges has selected pieces from ninety-seven artists from the local area and beyond to showcase across three vibrant venues in the heart of Guildford.
Newhouse Art Space, Fays Passage, Guildford GU1 4SQ
More than just a collection of artist studios, Newhouse is a vibrant creative hub for the Guildford community. Throughout the year, it hosts exhibitions, events, and workshops, welcoming people from all walks of life to come, explore, and get involved.
Our exhibition takes over every inch of the ground floor. Expect a dynamic mix of paintings, drawings, and photographs, alongside a diverse selection of sculptures and prints.
Guildford Baptist Church, Baptist Church, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BE
Nestled next to the river, Guildford Baptist Church is a beautiful space where community lies at its heart. For the festival, we’ve partnered with the church’s Open Grounds Café to showcase an array of paintings, prints, photographs, and drawings. Come in, relax with a coffee or tea, and enjoy the artwork around you in a welcoming, peaceful setting.
Jigsaw, 132–134 High Street, Guildford GU1 3HJ
Above Jigsaw, three formerly empty rooms have been brought to life as a fully-fledged gallery for four days. Two rooms will be filled with an exciting mix of sculpture, paintings, prints, drawings, and photographs, transforming the space into a lively hub of creativity where art spills from walls and easels alike.
The third room is being transformed into a dedicated screening space. Here, you can enjoy film works from our partners and makers at Sustain Film Festival, alongside captivating film pieces from talented artists selected through our open call.
Solar Sisters Showcase
Location: Solar Sisters
Opening Times/Cafe: 10:00 - 17:00 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) 10:00 - 16:00 (Sunday)
Solar Sisters are excited to showcase several local artists displaying and selling a wide range of works including vibrant botanical Gelli prints, beautiful watercolour greeting cards, adorable miniature needle felt animals, bold soulful acrylic paintings, uplifting flower crochet collages and Scandinavian functional ceramics. Come in, browse & shop, and sample our delicious menu!
Guildford Arts and Lockwood Studios Takeover
Location: The Mill Studio
Opening Times: 10:00 - 17:00 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday), 11:00 - 16:00 (Sunday)
Guildford Arts and Lockwood Studios takeover the Mill Studio at Yvonne Arnaud, showcasing the wonderful work that their resident artists create as well as hosting a verity of drop-in workshops so be sure to come check out the space as well as try your hand at something new!
Call to Artists // Jigsaw
Location: Jigsaw
Opening Times: 10:00 - 18:00 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) 11:00 - 17:00 (Sunday)
Open Call Exhibitions
The Guildford Festival of the Arts sent out an Open Call for artwork to feature in our inaugural exhibition and the artist community answered in abundance! Over three hundred submissions were received, from which our panel of judges has selected pieces from ninety-seven artists from the local area and beyond to showcase across three vibrant venues in the heart of Guildford.
Newhouse Art Space, Fays Passage, Guildford GU1 4SQ
More than just a collection of artist studios, Newhouse is a vibrant creative hub for the Guildford community. Throughout the year, it hosts exhibitions, events, and workshops, welcoming people from all walks of life to come, explore, and get involved.
Our exhibition takes over every inch of the ground floor. Expect a dynamic mix of paintings, drawings, and photographs, alongside a diverse selection of sculptures and prints.
Guildford Baptist Church, Baptist Church, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BE
Nestled next to the river, Guildford Baptist Church is a beautiful space where community lies at its heart. For the festival, we’ve partnered with the church’s Open Grounds Café to showcase an array of paintings, prints, photographs, and drawings. Come in, relax with a coffee or tea, and enjoy the artwork around you in a welcoming, peaceful setting.
Jigsaw, 132–134 High Street, Guildford GU1 3HJ
Above Jigsaw, three formerly empty rooms have been brought to life as a fully-fledged gallery for four days. Two rooms will be filled with an exciting mix of sculpture, paintings, prints, drawings, and photographs, transforming the space into a lively hub of creativity where art spills from walls and easels alike.
The third room is being transformed into a dedicated screening space. Here, you can enjoy film works from our partners and makers at Sustain Film Festival, alongside captivating film pieces from talented artists selected through our open call.
Lucy Pass: Invisible Things
Location: Guildford House
Opening Times: 10:00 - 16:30 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) CLOSED (Sunday)
Lucy Pass, top prize winner of the Guildford House Open 2024, unveils her highly anticipated first solo exhibition Invisible Things. The exhibition will feature a striking selection of drawings and paintings exploring the delicate balance between representation and abstraction. Pass's work is an introspective journey into the complexities of human emotion, aiming to "capture the invisible things within us."
About Guildford House
Guildford House was built in 1660 for Guildford lawyer and later 3 times town mayor, John Childe. The house stayed with the family until 1726 when it was purchased by John Martyr, also a lawyer. It remained in his family until 1850 when it was bought by Frank Aptd as a shop. It was a stationers and a book shop from 1914 - 1928. In 1929 it was converted into a restaurant, Nutalls, which operated until 1956. It became the town’s art gallery in 1959. Today it also houses the visitor information centre and courtyard craft shop with changing exhibitions in the gallery, throughout the year.
Sue Roche and Louisa Hannah
Location: Guildford Institute
Opening Times: 10:00 - 17:00
Hosted by: Guildford Arts
As part of a long established partnership, see the latest Guildford Arts exhibition featuring the stunning work of photographer Sue Roche and painter Louisa Hannah.
Louisa Hannah
Louisa’s inspiration comes from beach scenes and landscapes using vibrant colours and beautiful shapes and aims to spark joy through her paintings.
Sue Roche
Her collections reflect her passion for travel photography, capturing the simple beauty or intriguing juxtapositions of people, landscape and architecture.
The exhibition will be open throughout the festival in The Guildford Institute's historic Assembly Room (home to V Café).
Hope Rising
Location: The Lighthouse Guildford
Opening Times:
Esther is an oil painter from Surrey, specialising in seascapes and portraits. Esther produces striking images, capturing a single moment in a much bigger, vibrant story. Esther’s motivation to paint is to produce art that people respond to emotionally, whether that be through nostalgia, peace or anticipation of hope. Working in layers of oil paint, Esther enjoys playing with texture and light to create atmosphere on the canvas. Esther was a finalist in Surrey Artist of the Year 2022 and enjoys being part of a rich creative community.
Faye Campbell is a contemporary mixed media abstract artist who creates with spontaneity and soul. Her pieces are built in layers, using found and repurposed materials—often with a history of their own, passed on from vintage collections. You’ll notice her love of colour right away. Spray paint features alongside other mediums, bringing a subtle street art energy and a playful, graffiti-inspired edge. Lately, nature—especially flowers—has been a fresh source of inspiration, adding a gentle botanical feel to the work. Faye hopes her art brings a smile to your face and a sense of positivity to your space.
Working in repertory theatre in the 70s
Location: Yvonne Arnaud
Opening Times: 10:30 - 16:00
A John Walmsely Exhibition
John Walmsley has always photographed people doing what they do, everyday life. In 1973, he lived and worked alongside the Salisbury Playhouse company photographing how they put on a play and what it was like to be an actor in those days. The exhibition is taken from this body of work and shows rehearsals, sourcing props, learning lines in their ‘Digs’ and days off. In the 70s, each town had it’s own rep theatre and the actors and audiences got to know each other because they went to the same pubs after performances. Sadly, the rise of TV and government cuts proved too much and rep died out.
Designing for our Stage
Location: Yvonne Arnaud
Opening Times: 10:30 - 16:00 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday), CLOSED (Sunday)
Designing for our stage:
Sketches, sets, costumes and photographs of Yvonne Arnaud original productions.
See how designers have created concepts for our productions, and how they’ve been brought to life on stage.
Wildlife Photography
Location: Growlers
Opening Times: 16:00 - 23:00 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) 14:00 - 18:00 (Sunday)
Oxford University Graduate turned Wildlife Photographer, Alexander started selling his artwork in galleries while still at school at age 13. Trapped in a balancing act of academia and his dream throughout both school and University, he is now able to focus 100% of his attention on his photography, using social media as a means to repair society’s relationship with the natural world.
Bluebell Wood in Acrylic Workshop
Location: Guildford Institute
Event type: Workshop (ticketed)
Hosted by: Nathalie Scott
Learn about acrylic techniques and how to create depth by layering as you paint a bluebell wood guided by award-winning artist Nathalie Beauvillain Scott.
Award-winning artist Nathalie Beauvillain Scott specialises in highly detailed portrait paintings of everyday people in everyday life. Her pictures of everyone from children to celebrities are recognised for their incredible likeness, with her reputation for detail resulting in her work being displayed in the National Portrait Gallery on many occasions. You can currently see one of Nathalie's portrait in the National Portrait Gallery as part of the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer portrait award until 12 October 2025.
Price: £25 (materials included)
Please email to book tickets: nathalie@murals-portraits.co.uk
Portrait Drawing Session
Location: Carmine Crimson
Event type: Workshop (ticketed but free)
Hosted by: Michael Gallone
To celebrate Guildford’s Festival of the Arts, join us for a free portrait drawing class. All levels welcome, no experience necessary. Paper, pencils and easels are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own materials.
Our tutor Michael Gallone will be taking you through a portrait drawing demo and will be on hand to offer 1-1 guidance if you would like some.
We have free tea, coffee and biscuits for you to enjoy too.
Numbers are limited so reserve your free spot here.
John Russell: Guildford’s Royal Academician
Location: Guildford Institute
Event type: Talk
Hosted by: Olive Maggs BA MA PGCE
John Russell RA was an English painter renowned for his portrait work in oils and pastels, and as a writer and teacher of painting techniques. Born in Guildford, Russell was one of the eighteenth century’s leading pastel portraitists. In 1789 he was appointed Painter to King George III, then later to the Prince of Wales and to the Prince Regent. However Russell captured the character of sitters from all walks of life, from royalty to local personalities of Surrey.
Price: Non-Member: £17.50; Member: £15.50
Tickets can be bought here or call the Guildford Institute on: 01483 562142
Guildford Coffee Club // Cannon Coffee
Location: New House Art Space
Event type: Workshop
This is an event that happens once a month at New House Art Space.
Each event will focus on a different aspect of the coffee world, designed for open dialogue and discovery:
A Focus on Coffee Exploration: This could mean delving into a local roaster's craft, sharing captivating stories about coffee's journey, or an interactive session to learn new brewing techniques.
One Sunday Morning: A perfect opportunity to relax, learn, and connect.
Open Dialogue: Share your thoughts, ask questions, and engage with fellow coffee enthusiasts.
Plenty of Time to Wander the Gallery: Immerse yourself in the art around you, allowing for quiet contemplation and inspiration.
If you are new to Guildford Coffee Club or this is your first time attending an event since the relaunch for a discounted ticket use code: FIRSTTIME
You can turn up on the day or tickets can be bought here.
Portfolio Review
Location: New House Art Space
Event type: Portfolio Review (free)
Looking to discuss ideas and get some feedback on your portfolio? Look no further!
Whether you are a GCSE/A-level student, preparing for University or a local artist just looking for portfolio advice, we’re happy to help!
Price: Free but please book in advance here.
Annabel Miller
Annabel Miller is an artist and contemporary art curator. Her practice is grounded in both critical theory and hands-on artistic exploration, shaped by a background in mixed media and sculpture.
Annabel has a Masters degree from the Royal College of Art, and a BA in Fine Art from Arts University Bournemouth. In addition to a Foundation in Art and Design from Kingston School of Art.
With a strong foundation in artistic practice, Annabel now works primarily as a curator, bringing an artist’s sensibility to exhibition-making. Her curatorial approach is informed by her interest in materiality, narrative, and spatial dialogue, bridging creative production with thoughtful presentation.
Annabel currently works as the Gallery and studio Assistant at New House Art Space and is co-founder of the Togather collective.
Create with Clay: 175 Pots for Mary Watts
Location: Guildford Institute
Event type: Workshop (drop-in)
Join Watts Gallery at the Guildford Festival of the Arts to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Mary Watts' birth.
As a tribute to the artist, designer, and visionary craftswoman, we’re inviting the community to help us create 175 miniature pots in her distinctive style. Drop in to meet our resident ceramicist, Bahareh Khomeiry, and learn how to hand-build a simple pot inspired by Mary Watts’ legacy.
Your creation will be taken back to Watts Gallery to be fired and displayed as part of a special exhibition honouring Mary’s life and work. After the exhibition, you’ll be able to collect your finished piece to keep.
Price: £10
Textiles
Location: The Britannia Pub
Event type: Workshop (drop-in)
Hosted by: Textiles on Tuesday
Join the Textiles on Tuesdays sewing group for an introduction to stitch as meditation, a process that’s good for body and soul, allowing you to indulge in the tactile nature of hand stitch without the pressure of an end goal. The pieces created are often small scale (maybe only 4 square inches) and layered, so provide the perfect vehicle for incorporating scraps of material. Spend between 10 to 20 minutes creating your square to take home.
Have a go at Screenprinting
Location: The Britannia Pub
Event type: Workshop (drop-in)
Hosted by: Jeysie and Jule Mallett
Drop in and have a go at handpulling your own screenprint.
All ages and abilities welcome.
Once dry you can take your print home.
Talk with Andrew Curtis: Drawing Music Live
Location: Guildford Institute
Event type: Talk
Hosted by: Andrew Curtis
Andrew will talk about how he approaches drawing music live at festivals and gigs, offering examples of his work. He will demonstrate his methods and give the audience practical tips. Participants are encouraged to bring along their own sketchbooks and have a go. Andrew is the former Head of Art at the Royal Grammmar School in Guildford.
Talk with Monica Popham: Landscape Artist of the Year
Location: Guildford Institute
Event type: Talk
Hosted by: Monica Popham
Monica Popham is a Gibraltarian landscape artist based in London. Her work is inspired by the Mediterranean light of her upbringing in Gibraltar, exploring how sunlight interacts with architecture. Through vivid colour and bold compositions, she often transforms everyday shadows cast by palm trees, washing lines, or windows into subjects in their own right, capturing the warmth and stillness of sunlit spaces.
In 2024, Monica won Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year, which led to a major commission for the London Science Museum, where she created a piece reflecting Orkney’s pioneering renewable energy landscape. Since winning the competition, she has been working as a full-time artist, continuing to expand her practice and explore the emotional power of light in her paintings.
Artist in the Window: Sam B Kennedy
Location: Art + Grind
Opening Times/Cafe: 8:00 - 17:00 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) 9:00 - 17:00 (Sunday)We will have artist, Sam B Kennedy, working as an artist in residence in our window throughout the festival.
She will be creating a mixed media piece of artwork throughout her time with us and will be available to talk with visitors and they may even be able to put their own mark on her artwork!
Please note - she will be there from 2pm - 5pm everyday!
Guildford Jazz: Sam Woodland & Seth Pannifer Duo
Location: Art + Grind
Event: Free
Hosted by: Guildford Jazz
Enjoy some live jazz with your coffee and cake at the Art and Grind Cafe, and take the opportunity to browse the Jazz Photography exhibition.
Featuring the talented duo of local guitarist Sam Woodland and saxophonist Seth Pannifer.
Free your creativity
Location: Guildford Institute
Event type: Workshop
Hosted by: Denise Blackburn
Free your creativity workshop, where you can make a mess and be childlike!
Denise has a degree in fine art, lives in Surrey and is an active exhibitor in Open Studios. She runs workshops for people who want to express themselves through art and become aware of their creative flow. Creativity is about curiosity and innocence. In other words, Denise will help you get into your own creative flow and feel comfortable with what you create.
In the workshops participants can make a mess and give themselves permission to experiment. It’s not about a Picasso – it’s about you – and your own way of expressing your unique and individual style! We use cheap paper and paint and bits of collage. It’s abstract expressionism in its truest form!
You can get a place by filling in enquiry form on website www.soul-art.co.uk