On the 25th September, the Mayor of Guildford, Councillor Howard Smith, unveiled the winning photographs featured in his 2026 charity calendar at a special launch event held at Art and Grind, the independent art house and café on Guildford High Street.

Photographers, judges, and invited guests gathered to celebrate the stunning images selected for the calendar, each capturing a unique moment or showcasing the beauty of Guildford Borough. The photographs were chosen from entries to the Mayor’s 2025 photography competition, organised by the Guildford Photographic Society.

The venue provided the perfect backdrop for the exhibition, which will remain on display until Sunday 5 October as part of the Guildford Festival of the Arts.

Proceeds from calendar sales will support the Mayor’s chosen charities, helping to fund vital local initiatives. This year’s beneficiaries are:

• Phyllis Tuckwell
• The Cheryl King Trust
• Guildford Shakespeare Company
• The Mayor of Guildford’s Local Support Fund

Speaking at the launch, the Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Howard Smith, said: “There were so many wonderful entries that the judges had an incredibly difficult task selecting the final collection.

“This calendar is a celebration of Guildford Borough’s natural beauty, captured through the lens of our talented local photographers.

“I hope others will be as captivated by these images as we were, and enjoy them day by day through this stylish and practical family calendar.

“A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped bring this project to life. I’m especially grateful to the Guildford Photographic Society for organising the competition and to the judges for their expertise and thoughtful choices. Thanks to our generous sponsors every penny raised will go directly to my chosen charities.”

The calendar is available for £10 and can be purchased online, at the Guildford Tourist Information Centre, Art & Grind, and Paper Moon bookshop.

The calendar can be bought online from the Guildford Borough Council website: www.guildford.gov.uk/mayorscharitycalendar

About The Mayor of Guildford’s chosen charities: Phyllis Tuckwell, Guildford Shakespeare Company, The Cheryl King Trust, The Mayor of Guildford’s Local Support Fund

Sponsors of the calendar: Ash Contracting, Ben Collectors Records, Experience Guildford, Chapters Financial, Art & Grind, Paper Moon, The Guildford Institute, Seymours

About the judges: The judging team included, The Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Howard Smith, his son, Stanley, BBC Surrey and Sussex’s Mark Carter DL, the co-founder of the Guildford Festival of the Arts, Charlie Cluff, and Surrey photographer and PR advisor, Andy Newbold.

Guildford Photographic Society (GPS): GPS was founded in 1892 to advance the art and craft of amateur photography. It is still dedicated to those goals: enabling the development of photographic skills in the context of modern and constantly evolving equipment and techniques. The society welcomes all levels of experience from beginners to advanced. Activities run throughout the year. More information: www.guildfordphotosoc.org.uk

Art & Grind is an independent art house and café located on Guildford High Street. Established in March 2024 by Trish Young, it celebrates the arts and local artists. More information: www.artandgrind.co.uk

Guildford Festival of the Arts: 25 to 28 September 2025: a four-day celebration of the visual arts, designed to showcase the talent of local artists and engage the community in creative experiences. Taking place in Guildford Town Centre, the event aims to revitalise the local art scene by utilising independent shops, arts venues, and creative spaces. More information: www.guildfordfestivalofthearts.co.uk