Location: Growlers

Opening Times: 16:00 - 23:00 (Thursday, Friday) 12:00 - 23:00 (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. 

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.

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. 

Location: The Lighthouse Guildford

Opening Times: 10:30 - 15:00

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.

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.

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).

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.

Location: The Mill Studio

Opening Times: 10:00 - 16:00 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday), 12:00 - 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 variety of drop-in workshops so be sure to come check out the space as well as try your hand at something new!

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!

Location: Old Orleans

Event type: Demonstration

Live Street Art Demonstration

Ten renowned street artists will come together over the weekend of the 27th and 28th in conjunction with Guildford Festival of the Arts, to beautify the Old Orleans building and bring colour to Guildford's landscape. The collective of Artists included in this project have a great diversity of styles and techniques, having all crafted their individual styles over many years. Come and say hello and meet the Artists whilst they execute large scale murals on this forgotten structure, giving the location a new lease of life.

Who are the Artists?

Roo

Roo has a crew. It consists mostly of animals, which vary in mood and personality. Some are friendly and others will eat you.

Skyhigh

Skyhigh started writing graffiti back in 97. From what started as just writing his name on walls has transcended over time into a full-time career. Skyhigh is a versatile urban artist who regularly combines graffiti and street art in his work.

My Dog Sighs 

Paul is an Internationally acclaimed street artist working under the moniker ‘My Dog Sighs’. Paul  has spent over 20 years honing his craft on streets across his home town of Portsmouth and across the globe, initially with his Freeartfriday project; with commissioned murals across five continents and groundbreaking immersive installations which push the boundaries of urban contemporary art. 

Through a  combination of melancholic, photo realistic  and often naive portraiture combined with the use of found materials including abandoned food cans.

Tech Moon

Tech Moon is an artist from Cornwall, known for large-scale, realistic murals that blend the natural world with timeless classical elements.

Abraham

Abraham Osorio, 1990, El Salvador. Based in London. In his works, he seeks to "awaken and sensitize individual and collective consciences through the human being as the main axis. He speaks of the core of the human being of emotions, a permanent reflection on identity, on life in urban and rural societies in their environments, exploring themes between the inspirations of the individual and the demands of everyday life, using social realism as the main dialogue, within its proposal being this same cause and effect.

Ricky Also

Ricky Also's love for typography, colour & layout are the product of his background in graffiti art and graphic design. 

Drawing on these influences he creates structured artworks from words and sayings that interlock in multiple layers. Featuring exaggerated & manipulated letterforms that help to give a unique sense of movement and rhythm. With the majority of his work taking the form of painted murals, he plays heavily with scale and the concept of using supersized graphics to transform spaces and environments.

Fark FK

Fark has been an artist for the past twenty five years painting the streets and exhibiting his work both here in the uk and globally. 

His work is a mixture of stencils and freehand which he likes to combine together to create something that is bright and positive and easily recognisable with one of his signature bird characters. Peace.

Jeru

Jeru does lines, or rather she makes art out of them. Her use of line work combined with pattern are the hallmarks of her signature style. Story telling is at the centre of Jeru’s work. Her linear murals take a whimsical view on reality, centring around relationships, human behaviour and interactions with the natural environment.

Ansley

Ansley Randall is a street artist known for bold, retro-inspired patterns, vibrant color palettes, and an intuitive process rooted in movement, rhythm, and form. Drawing from mid-century design and abstract art, she transforms public walls, canvases, and interiors into immersive environments that spark joy and connection.

Her creative journey is both spontaneous and intentional - she lets “color and shape take the lead,” resulting in compositions that are playful yet thoughtfully composed. From large-scale murals to hand-made goods, her work is all about engaging communities, brightening everyday spaces, and blending nostalgia with modern energy.

Pogo

Pogo is a French born artist living and working in Southampton, specialising in complex multi layer stencils.

Attention to detail is integral to his work, always pushing boundaries within the technique.

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.

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.

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

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

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