Month: July 2026

Meet Our What’s On October 2026 to March 2027 Brochure Cover Artist

We’re proud to showcase ‘Past the Dunes’ by local artist Becca Clegg on the cover of our latest What’s On programme brochure. Discover the inspiration behind her work and why supporting local creativity is such an important part of our programme.

Meet Becca

Becca’s vibrant artwork draws inspiration from the natural world, with landscapes, flowers and the changing seasons featuring throughout her work. Working across painting and printmaking, she creates colourful and textured pieces that encourage us to look a little closer and notice the beauty in our surroundings.

For us, this collaboration is about more than simply creating an eye-catching brochure cover. It is a chance to celebrate the creativity that exists within our region and to support artists by sharing their work with our community. Just as our courses and events encourage people to try something new, develop skills and explore their own creativity, we believe it is important to champion the artists who inspire us along the way.

Becca’s work feels like a perfect fit for our new programme- full of colour, curiosity and a sense of discovery. We selected her collagraph print, Past the Dunes, for the cover of our latest brochure, and we are thrilled to share her artwork with everyone who picks up a copy.

This is also an exciting time for Becca, who has recently been nominated for Surrey Artist of the Year, recognising her contribution to the county’s thriving creative community.

“I have loved painting and making for as long as I can remember. My work is inspired by the beauty of landscapes I find around me- from colourful fields of flowers and calming coastal views to the quiet atmosphere of woodland walks with my family. In acrylics, I create vibrant, textural, semi-abstract landscapes that capture the feeling and emotion of a place rather than just the view itself.

Since art college in 1985 I’ve also loved printmaking so alongside my paintings I also create limited edition prints, creating collagraph viscosity prints inspired by coastlines and industrial landscapes.I love bringing landscapes to life through colour, texture and imagination, and I hope my work brings a little joy to those who see it.”

A huge thank you to Becca for working with us and helping bring our latest programme to life. We hope her artwork inspires you to explore your creativity, try something new and join us for our exciting new programme of creative workshops, launching online on 3 August.

Learn more about Becca’s work via her website.

Discover Becca Clegg’s ‘Past the Dunes‘, the striking artwork featured on the cover of our What’s On: October 2026 – March 2027 programme brochure. Launching on the 03 August 2026, inside, you’ll find more than 100 courses and events designed to inspire, encourage creativity and help you discover something new.

Our Finance Officer Vicky is swapping spreadsheets for the Spinnaker Tower in support of The Guildford Institute. Most people would think twice about abseiling 100 metres down the iconic Spinnaker Tower, Vicky certainly has-but she’s doing it anyway! 

A Challenge Worth Taking On

On 6 September, our Finance Officer, Vicky, will be taking on this challenge to raise funds for The Guildford Institute, the charity she’s proud to be part of every day. If you know Vicky, you’ll know she’s usually happiest keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Alongside looking after our finances, she supports our fantastic volunteers and helps deliver projects that ensure The Guildford Institute continues to grow and evolve.

Standing on the edge of a 100-metre tower? That’s not exactly in the job description!

Stepping Outside Her Comfort Zone

Taking on an abseil like this is no mean feat, and it’s certainly well outside Vicky’s comfort zone. But she’s bravely taking the leap (quite literally!) to help raise money for a charity that means a great deal to her.

Supporting The Guildford Institute’s Future

For more than 130 years, The Guildford Institute has been part of the local community, bringing people together through talks, courses, events and shared experiences. It’s a place where people come to learn something new, meet others and discover new interests and every day we see the difference those opportunities can make.

As an independent charity, we rely on the generosity of our members, supporters and donors to help us continue that work. Every pound Vicky raises will go straight back into The Guildford Institute, helping us develop our activities, care for our historic building and continue providing opportunities for people across our community to learn, connect and thrive.

Vicky’s Words

Here’s what Vicky had to say about the challenge:

“I’m not going to pretend I’m looking forward to leaning over the edge of a 100-metre tower but knowing it’s for such a worthwhile cause will (hopefully!) give me the courage to make it all the way down. If you can spare anything at all, I’d be incredibly grateful. Every donation, no matter the size, will help The Guildford Institute continue making a difference in our community. Thank you so much for your support and wish me luck!“

Cheering Vicky On

We’re incredibly grateful to Vicky for taking on this challenge even if she may be questioning the decision as the day gets closer! We know she’ll be brilliant, and we’ll all be cheering her on from solid ground.

Can You Support Vicky’s Fundraiser?

If you’d like to support Vicky’s fundraiser, we’d be hugely grateful. Every donation, no matter the amount, will help The Guildford Institute continue developing its work and supporting people across our local community. Visit Vicky’s JustGiving page to make your donation.

Follow Vicky’s fundraising journey and keep up to date with her preparations, progress and updates across our social channels, including Facebook and Instagram.

Thank you for supporting Vicky, and good luck from all of us at The GI and our community. We’ll be rooting for you every step (or abseil!) of the way.