COME AND JOIN A RESTORATIVE PAINTING WORKSHOP TO RECONNECT WITH YOUR CREATIVE INTUITION

Whether you're intimidated, disconnected, or in touch with pleasure when it comes to your womb, this workshop is a way to reconnect to your body through art in an exclusive private space.

This session offers cacao, canvas, and space to feel connected to yourself. You belong in your body exactly as you are - let’s embody that through art.

About your guide theodora

Theodora is an Oil painter and womb art facilitator, based between London & Surrey

“I paint from my womb as the centre of creative and life force energy in my body, the place I spent years ignoring that found increasingly dramatic ways to get my attention.

I used to create ethereal and angelic art of women. When I transitioned into making red and black womb symbols, a lot of the inflammation I had in my body relaxed, including my period pain. There is something about painting with colours and shapes that felt most natural and intimidatingly simple that created the most healing in my body.

Expressing whatever that might be affirms the wombs importance, which is exactly why I hold these sessions.”

Follow Theodora at @theo.dora.art

Limited Early Bird tickets available - book now

Would you like to try a tabletop rpg? Try a one shot. Run by GM Jakub who has over 10 years experience, for players both completely new and experienced. Play as modern day monster hunters, fighting back against ancient horrors even if no one believes you.

Game system: Hunter the Reckoning 

Players limit: 5

Players must also be over the age of 18.

Fee: £5 (drink from Frida's included)

Dice will be available for you to use on the day. If you would like to bring you own you will need multiple D10's (10 sided dice).

Ellen is an artist, designer, and museum geek based in Guildford, working in London. Her practice is shaped by both her professional experience working in museums and galleries, and her academic background studying Fine Art at the Glasgow School of Art and Lancaster University.

Working across a range of disciplines including painting, textile/fibre arts, and upholstery, she explores the richness of everyday life through material and process. She is particularly drawn to moments that might otherwise go unnoticed; fleeting interactions, habitual gestures, and the quiet rhythms of daily routines. Encounters during her commute often inspire her work, where she observes characters and behaviours that reflect the subtle complexity of human experience.

At the heart of Ellen’s practice is a fascination with people: how we present ourselves, how we relate to one another, and how meaning is constructed through seemingly ordinary moments. Her aim is to elevate the mundane, inviting closer attention to what might initially appear banal. This exhibition focuses primarily on her watercolour work. Often underestimated, watercolour is an expressive and unpredictable medium. She is drawn to its fluidity and its capacity for layering, allowing me to build depth, texture, and atmosphere while embracing elements of chance and spontaneity.

Last year Ellen entered the Guildford Festival of the Arts Open Call and was delighted to be accepted and later voted as the public’s favourite with her work ‘100 Days of Lockdown’.

Read more about Ellen’s work and her solo exhibition in this exclusive interview for Sound + Vision.

The Mount Community Walk

📍 Meet-up: The Surrey Scholar Statue (50 High Street, Guildford, GU1 3ES)

⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

📅 Date: Sunday 30th August

🥾 Walk type: Community hike

📏 Distance: 7.58km / 5 miles

⛰️ Elevation gain: 235 m

⏱️ Estimated time: 2–2.5 hours

Sign-Up & Waiver

Spaces are limited, so please sign up using the link above to secure your place.

Before attending, all participants must also complete the waiver on the Eventbrite ticket.

Walk Highlights

Panoramic views from The Mount

Peaceful woodland trails and country paths

Open green spaces and beautiful scenery

A relaxed, social atmosphere

Coffee and conversation at Frida's Coffee House

Route Overview

Starting from the Surrey Scholar statue in Guildford High Street, we'll make our way to the Chantry Woods, following a mix of woodland trails, country paths, and open green spaces. We’ll enjoy some great forest walks across the surrounding landscape before heading back into Guildford for coffee at Frida’s Coffee House.

As we walk, there'll be plenty of opportunities to chat, meet like-minded people, and enjoy a relaxed pace together. The route includes a few steady climbs but is designed to be sociable rather than challenging, with plenty of time to take in the scenery.

What to Bring

Comfortable walking boots or trail shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, a bottle of water, any snacks you'd like along the way, and suncream if the forecast is warm. The route includes uneven woodland terrain, country paths, and a few moderate hills.

Important Information

By taking part in this Northern Wind community hike, you acknowledge that you are participating at your own risk. Please take care on uneven paths, look after your health and belongings, and be mindful of fellow walkers as we explore together.

Please ensure you are comfortable walking the stated distance and terrain. Dogs are welcome where appropriate but must be kept under control and in accordance with local access restrictions.

We look forward to exploring together. 🌿🥾

A coffee morning for all small town sapphics to be together and to stop complaining about not seeing other lesbians. We're an inclusive space so whether you identify as non-binary, trans, or a bisexual woman you are welcome to join!

About Izabella

Izabella Scott is a queer writer from London. She is the author of The Bed Trick: Sex and Deception on Trial (2026); and co-author with Skye Arundhati Thomas of Pleasure Gardens (2024), which was joint winner of the 2025 Bread & Roses Award for Radical Publishing.

About the Book

In her riveting and forensic examination of the case of Gayle Newman, a woman accused by her former best friend ofimpersonating a man during sex and convicted of ‘rape by deception’, Izabella Scott interrogates the case from every conceivable angle. Exposing the slippery side of consent law, the many myths and archetypes that crowd the courtroom, and the shifting rules of deceptive sex, Scott questions: Whose narratives are heard? Who is seen as a credible victim and what is considered a credible crime? The Bed Trick: Sex and Deception on Trial is a lucid, vivid story about stories—their limits, their merits—and the ways we lie in love, in life, and in law.

Add your ticket to your basket to buy a copy of the book with 10% off!

Coffee Club is a relaxed and thoughtful Sunday gathering centred around coffee, good conversation and discovery. It brings together curious, open people who enjoy learning, conversation, and the simple fun of discovering something new.

Each Coffee Club session focuses on a different aspect of the coffee world, creating space for open dialogue and discovery. The atmosphere is calm, welcoming, and informal, with time to engage at your own pace, share a laugh, and truly connect with fellow coffee lovers.

What can a cup of coffee tell us about the history of the world?

From the forests of Ethiopia to the coffeehouses that helped shape modern society, coffee's journey reveals stories of trade, empire, culture, innovation, and human connection.

Join Guildford Coffee Club for a special morning with Professor Jonathan Morris, one of the world's leading coffee historians, as we explore the remarkable story behind one of humanity's most influential drinks.

Together we'll trace coffee's path across continents and centuries, from its origins in Ethiopia to its role in shaping global trade, social life, and modern coffee culture. Along the way, we'll explore the people, places, and ideas that shaped coffee's journey, and the questions it still raises today about sustainability, production, and the world we share.

In true Guildford Coffee Club fashion, this won't be a formal lecture. We'll begin with coffee and conversation before settling into an interactive session featuring stories, historical imagery, coffee tastings, and plenty of opportunities for discussion and audience participation.

Whether you're interested in history, culture, travel, ideas, sustainability, or simply enjoy a good conversation over coffee, you're warmly invited to join us.

About Professor Jonathan Morris

Professor Jonathan Morris is one of the world's leading coffee historians, author of Coffee: A Global History — translated into nine languages — and co-creator of the A History of Coffee podcast series. His 2024 TED-Ed lesson on how humanity got hooked on coffee has been viewed more than three million times worldwide.

Jonathan has appeared on BBC Radio 4, CNN, The Guardian, and The Sunday Times, and is a regular judge at the Speciality Coffee Association's World of Coffee awards.

As always, expect great coffee, open conversation, and plenty to take home.

First time? Use code FIRSTTIME for a discount.

The Mount Community Walk

📍 Meet-up: The Surrey Scholar Statue (50 High Street, Guildford, GU1 3ES)

⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

📅 Date: Sunday 26th July

🥾 Walk type: Community hike

📏 Distance: 7.07 km / 4.4 miles

⛰️ Elevation gain: 228 m

⏱️ Estimated time: 2–2.5 hours

Sign-Up & Waiver

Spaces are limited, so please sign up using the link above to secure your place.

Before attending, all participants must also complete the waiver on the Eventbrite ticket.

Walk Highlights

Panoramic views from The Mount

Peaceful woodland trails and country paths

Open green spaces and beautiful scenery

A relaxed, social atmosphere

Coffee and conversation at Frida's Coffee House

Route Overview

Starting from the Surrey Scholar statue in Guildford High Street, we'll make our way towards The Mount, following a mixture of woodland trails, quiet country paths, and open green spaces. Along the route, we'll enjoy panoramic views across Guildford and the surrounding Surrey Hills before looping back towards the town centre.

As we walk, there'll be plenty of opportunities to chat, meet like-minded people, and enjoy a relaxed pace together. The route includes a few steady climbs but is designed to be sociable rather than challenging, with plenty of time to take in the scenery before finishing with coffee and conversation at Frida's Coffee House.

What to Bring

Comfortable walking boots or trail shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, a bottle of water, any snacks you'd like along the way, and suncream if the forecast is warm. The route includes uneven woodland terrain, country paths, and a few moderate hills.

Important Information

By taking part in this Northern Wind community hike, you acknowledge that you are participating at your own risk. Please take care on uneven paths, look after your health and belongings, and be mindful of fellow walkers as we explore together.

Please ensure you are comfortable walking the stated distance and terrain. Dogs are welcome where appropriate but must be kept under control and in accordance with local access restrictions.

We look forward to exploring together. 🌿🥾

Come along on this treasure hunt through Guildford’s queer and trans history to learn about the LGBTQIA+ people that have shaped this town since the 14th century. From kings to composers, from archaeologists to gender anarchists, this event will get up close and personal with all of them. 

We will meet at New House Art Space at 2pm and you will receive a brief introduction from your host Dr Lena Mattheis (they/she). You can then decide whether you want to do your queer treasure hunt as a self-guided walking tour or from the comfort of the café at New House. Both versions will use the ListenQueer app, which is audio-based, so please bring headphones!

Come back to New House with the correct answers to all treasure hunt clues at 3:30pm to claim your prize! Afterwards, why not grab a coffee or cake and stay to chat and mingle.

Meet: 2pm at New House Art Space (café area)

Ends: 3:30pm, also at New House

Option: Stay at New House for a queer social till 4:30pm

A coffee morning for all small town sapphics to be together and to stop complaining about not seeing other lesbians. We're an inclusive space so whether you identify as non-binary, trans, or a bisexual woman you are welcome to join!

What if the limits of who we think we are are more flexible than they feel?

Sculpture artist Claire Knill and sound artist Julian Deane join a conversation at New House Art Space exploring what happens when the job titles that once defined us start to loosen their grip.

Hosted by Liana Fricker, this conversation is rooted in a simple observation: many working lives are organised around job titles, roles, and professional labels that become shorthand for identity over time. It explores how earlier roles and experiences are carried forward into new forms of creative practice, beautiful endings and beginnings.

An evening for those with long lists of past selves and a slightly harder-to-explain present one. Rather than treating creative practice as an isolated outcome, the event considers it as evidence of a longer process - where previous roles remain embedded, reconfigured, or transformed within current work.

The format is a live, in-room conversation with audience presence and participation. Small-room format (20–30 seats), closer to a recorded exchange than a panel discussion.

About Claire Knill

Claire Knill is a multidisciplinary British artist based in Hove, working across sculpture, installation, and collage. Her work includes kinetic suspended sculptural forms constructed from materials such as brass, aluminium, wood, acrylic, and glass.

She trained in Multimedia Textiles at Loughborough University.

Her work is exhibited regularly at Artists Open House in Brighton and The Affordable Art Fair in London, where she is represented by Lara Bowen Contemporary.

She has undertaken residencies including A Place To Breathe Slowly at the Regency Townhouse, which combined sculpture, sound, and spatial installation.

Prior to working as a full-time artist, she held senior roles in luxury travel marketing and communications, including Head of Marketing & PR at Black Tomato.

Her current practice reflects the ongoing reconfiguration of earlier professional experience into sculptural form, process, and material decision-making.

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/claireknillart/Website:https://www.claireknill.com/

About Julian Deane

Julian Deane is a soundscape artist, writer, and former music industry professional.

He began his career as a musician in Toploader, who released multi-platinum records and achieved multiple UK Top 20 singles.

He later moved into artist management and label operations, working with artists including Bombay Bicycle Club, Reverend and the Makers, and Dream Wife. He most recently served as Managing Director and A&R at Raygun, a Brighton-based management company, record label, and music publisher.

He now works independently as a soundscape artist and writer, focusing on sound as space, attention, and composition.

His current practice emerges from a long history of industry-facing roles, where systems of management, representation, and structure are reworked into sound-based creative output.

He has recently stepped away from full-time artist management after two decades in the industry.

Substack: https://woodchesterpianocompany.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodchesterpianocompany/

About your host: Liana Fricker

Liana Fricker is Founder of The Inspiration Space, a community and business development platform for founders and creatives.

She is a TEDx speaker and has worked as a marketing strategist on campaigns for Bacardi, BMW, and the NHS.

She curates this conversation series, bringing together practitioners to explore how working lives are structured and how those structures evolve over time.

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/lianafricker/

Zines (a self published magazine) have long been a part of LGBTQ+ culture. In this hands on workshop Kai will share some of the history of zines and then guide you through making your own! There will be a wide range of materials provided such as collage, stickers, pens and pencils, pastels and more so you can really express yourself.

The Watermelon Woman

The Watermelon Woman stars Dunye, playing a version of herself who works in a video store while searching for a forgotten black actress from the 30s credited only as “The Watermelon Woman”.

What begins as a DIY documentary project slowly becomes something richer: a meditation on who gets remembered, who gets erased, and who has the power to tell stories. Dunye places herself at the centre, not as an authority, but as a participant who is curious, flawed, funny, and openly subjective. The film understands that objectivity has often been the tool of erasure, not truth.

Cheryl Dunye turns absence into inquiry, using humor, warmth, and invention to confront how black queer histories are erased, misfiled, or never recorded in the first place. The Watermelon Woman is a film that feels quietly radical not because it announces its importance, but because it refuses to ask permission to exist The Watermelon Woman not only stands against the erasure of marginalised stories in the face of white patriarchal power, but depicts an abundance of joy too. Friendships unfold with lived-in ease, romance is awkward and sincere, and the film’s low-budget aesthetic becomes a strength rather than a limitation. It feels intimate, handmade and alive. Every choice reinforces the idea that representation isn’t just about visibility, but about control who tells the story and how. Dunye’s film doesn’t just critique that absence it fills it, lovingly and defiantly.

It’s funny, intimate, political, and deeply personal all at once. By the time the film ends, you realize you’ve watched something both historically vital and incredibly charming. The Watermelon Woman looks back in order to create a future archive where people like Dunye are impossible to erase.

Even decades later, it feels fresh. Not just because of its themes, but because of its voice: playful, sharp, and unapologetically queer.

REVIEWS:

“…layered with intelligent ideas about the complexities of power and love…”

Time Out New York

“…everything a first feature should be, fast and loose, breathless and beautiful…”

Philadelphia City Paper

Getting messy and painting for self expression is something that can be hard to find the time and space to do! Celebrating pride month and community this workshop will give us space to connect and create a large painting together. Starting with a mindfulness activity, we will then use a range of materials which will be all provided, to create an expressive, beautiful piece of art together, with time to chat throughout and reflect at the end. 

Blossom LGBT: Cut, Paste, Wear: Queer Fashion History Collage + Clothes Swap

Opening Night: Thursday 25th June 6-8pm

You Are Art is an exhibition of work from the past 3 years of LGBTQ+ life drawing classes at New House. The pieces featured are a collection of drawings and thoughts from of all those who have participated over the years and made the classes what they are: a welcoming and inclusive space for the queer community to enjoy creating together and celebrate the diversity and beauty of LGBTQ+ bodies.

These classes, run by local artist Kai Kathleen, were started in response to noticing a huge lack of queer spaces in Guildford at the time. Having attended a few standard life drawing classes themselves, Kai noticed a pattern of similar body types and a lack of inclusivity which left them dreaming of creating a space where trans and gender non conforming bodies could be at the forefront. 

Representation is so important for our community, you can’t be what you don’t see, and so seeing a range of body types being admired as the art they are, can be so impactful for people. The classes aim to be a place where people can take some time to rest, knowing who they are is fully welcomed and accepted and have become a wonderful way to connect with queer people in the local community and beyond 

Have you ever noticed all the colours, patterns, words and pictures on different sorts of packaging that we so often throw away or send for recycling?

They can be awesome and if you combine them together, they can create even more awesome works of art!

As part of Guildford’s Big Green Day on Sunday 14th June, local collage artist Kirsty McNay will be at New House Art Space between 11am and 5pm to show you how to create collages from all sorts of packaging. Kirsty will help you combine pieces to create different artistic styles like landscapes, abstract art or even still life. So come along, give some packaging a new purpose and take home your own unique piece of art.

Children and adults are all very welcome. Drop in throughout the day or book ahead at … £8 per person.

You can see Kirsty’s own collage art on Instagram @kirsty.mcnay

This is a drop in events but it is advised that you book your place in advance.

Newlands Corner Community Walk

📍 Meet-up: The Surrey Scholar Statue (50 High Street, Guildford, GU1 3ES)

⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

📅 Date: Sunday 14th June

🥾 Walk type: Community hike

📏 Distance: 9.5 km / 5.9 miles

⛰️ Elevation gain: 209 m

⏱️ Estimated time: 2.5–3 hours

Route overview

Starting from the Surrey Scholar statue in Guildford High Street, we'll leave the town behind and make our way towards Newlands Corner. The route follows a mix of woodland paths, countryside trails, and open farmland, offering fantastic views across the Surrey Hills and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the landscape.

As we make our way through the countryside, there'll be time to chat, connect with fellow walkers, and enjoy a relaxed pace together. The route combines gentle climbs, scenic viewpoints, and peaceful trails before returning to Guildford town centre for a well-earned coffee and catch-up.

What to bring

Comfortable walking boots or trail shoes, weather-appropriate layers, snacks, and water. The route includes uneven terrain, woodland paths, and some moderate climbs and descents.

Important information

By taking part in this Northern Wind community hike, you acknowledge that you are participating at your own risk. Please take care on uneven paths, look after your health and belongings, and be mindful of fellow walkers as we explore together.

Please ensure you are comfortable walking the stated distance and terrain. Dogs are welcome where appropriate but must be kept under control and in accordance with local access restrictions.

We look forward to exploring together. 🌿🥾

Please note that the walk does not start at New House Art Space

Step into the wonderfully strange world of artist Steve Xoh in this playful, hands-on workshop that blends creativity, curiosity, and a touch of the unexpected.

Known for his bold black-and-white drawings, vibrant paintings, and imaginative conceptual projects like “(Not a) Lost Cat” and the world’s first silent podcast, Steve Xoh invites you to explore your own ideas in a relaxed, experimental setting.

Across this two-hour session, you’ll begin at NHAS before heading for a short burst of “field work,” gathering inspiration from the world around you, then returning to transform your discoveries into your own unique creations. Whether you’re a seasoned maker or just feeling curious, this workshop is all about embracing not quite knowing what you’re doing—and enjoying it.

Steve Xoh has exhibited internationally (even alongside Pablo Picasso and David Shrigley), created work across all seven continents, and authored the brilliantly odd What the February?! 108 weird creative challenges for humans. Now’s your chance to make something equally unexpected.

All materials are provided. Children are very welcome but must be supervised by an adult due to the use of scalpels (scissors will also be available).

A talk and workshop on confidence, self-belief and finding your way back to you.

What if confidence isn't something you find, but something you practise? In this two-hour session, Judy takes you on a journey through her own story of self-belief: the wobbles, the breakthroughs, and the Post-it notes that got her through. Her 30-minute talk is disarmingly honest. The 90-minute interactive workshop that follows gives you space to do what we rarely make time for, a check in with yourself, and reconnect with who you really are, and remember what you're capable of. You'll leave with practical tools, fresh clarity, and the quiet confidence that comes from paying attention to yourself again. No fixing required. Just curiosity. Because you are not lost. You are exactly where you need to be.

You already have what it takes.

Judy Andrews FRSA is a creative director, hand-drawn typographer, writer and self-belief mentor with nearly 25 years of helping people and brands find their voice, and the courage to use it. She is the author of Wonder Journey Joy.

Vision

To create a creative home within the Arts House where the ritual of coffee connects people, celebrates local diversity, and every culture finds a seat at the table.

Mission

We celebrate coffee as more than a beverage — it is a bridge between worlds. By bringing the heritage of global coffee-growing communities into our local arts scene, we create an inviting space where art, music, and conversation meet. Through hands-on workshops and the craft of the brew, we invite people to discover, learn, and connect — creating a place where they don't just visit, they belong.

Brew. Bond. Belong.

A one-day event bringing together the specialty coffee community, local makers, cultural organisations, and curious people from across Guildford and Surrey.

The workshops

The workshops will book up quick so secure you space by booking below.

Workshop sessions are held upstairs and there is no lift. The market hall is on the ground floor and is fully accessible. If you have specific access requirements, please get in touch before booking

Surrey Artist Open Studios Opening Reception

The Summer Open Studios 2026 will run from 6 June-21 June, 11am-5pm daily.

Join us for the Opening Reception of the Surrey Artist Open Studios at New House Art Space to celebrate the local artists taking part in this year’s Open Studios. Come meet some of the artists and have the opportunity to talk to them about their work in a relaxed environment.