The Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild was established in 1980 as the Outdoor Writers Guild - a professional group for writers specialising in the outdoors. In 2006 the Guild changed its name to Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild to recognise that members had professional skills in other areas to writing, with an informal strapline âÂÂWords and Pictures from the OutdoorsâÂÂ. TodayâÂÂs membership includes writers, journalists, photographers, illustrators, broadcasters, film-makers, artists, web designers, publishers and editors, but all with the common bond of a passionate interest in the outdoors.
Most members are based in the UK although membership extends internationally. It has around 100 members and is run by a committee of members. The current chair is the author and photographer Josephine Collingwood.
Each year, the Guild hosts an AGM and Awards weekend, at various locations across the UK and Channel Islands. Previous destinations have included Isle of Wight, Snowdonia, Jersey, Shropshire and Northumberland. The weekend is an opportunity for members to come together for learning workshops, the awards ceremony, the Annual General Meeting as well as social events.
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The Guild annually presents Awards for Excellence, which are open to members only, as well as an award for technical innovation in the outdoors.
Awards which members can enter include Outdoor Article/Feature, Technical Article/Feature, Guidebook, Photography, Outdoor Book.
Recent winners can be found on the OWPG website.
The Golden Eagle Award, an original watercolour painting by Guild member, David Bellamy, was presented to a person who has rendered distinguished or meritorious service to the outdoors generally. It ran from 1995 to 2023. Recipients were:
1995: Ken Wilson
1996: Walt Unsworth<br /> 1997: Dr Rennie McOwan<br /> 1998: Alan Mattingly<br /> 1999: Chris Brasher CBE<br /> 2000: Irvine Butterfield<br /> 2001: Tom Weir<br /> 2002: John Cleare<br /> 2003: Alan Blackshaw and Cedric Robinson MBE<br /> 2004: Sir David Attenborough<br /> 2005: Doug Scott CBE<br /> 2006: Kate Ashbrook and Robin and Sue Harvey<br /> 2007: W. R. 'Bill' Mitchell MBE<br /> 2008: Sir Chris Bonington CBE<br /> 2009: Marion Shoard<br /> 2010: Jonathan Williams <br /> 2011: Bill Bryson <br /> 2012: Dr Adam Watson<br /> 2013: No award <br /> 2014: John Grimshaw <br /> 2015âÂÂ16: no award<br /> 2017: Richard Fox <br /> 2018: Chris Packham <br /> 2019-21: Not awarded <br /> 2022: Nick Owen MBE
2023: Rhiane Fatinikun MBE
Source:<br /><br /> 1999: Perseverance Mills (Pertex) <br /> 2000: Brasher Boot Company <br /> 2001: Nextec (Encapsulated Fabrics)<br /> 2002: GoLite<br /> 2003: Not awarded <br /> 2004: Lyon Equipment
2006: Steripen <br /> 2007: Satmap Active 10 GPS <br /> 2008: Teko socks system <br /> 2009: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir mattress by Cascade Designs<br /> 2010: Laser Photon tent by TerraNova <br /> 2011: Neoshell Fabric by Polartec <br /> 2012: Biolite Campstove <br /> 2013: Brunton Hydrogen Reactor <br /> 2014: Primaloft Down Blend Insulation <br /> 2015: OspreyâÂÂs suspended AntiGravity⢠backsystem <br /> 2016: Pertex CS10 Technology fabric <br /> 2017: Outdoor Design Logistics X-tex breathable fabric for single skin tents <br /> 2018: Not awarded <br /> 2019: Not awarded <br /> 2020: Not awarded <br /> 2021: PrimaLoftî P.U.R.E.⢠(Produced Using Reduced Emissions)
2022: Garmin inReach Mini2
2023: Built to Send X3 Alpine
2024: BAM
The Golden Boot Award was presented annually to a person or company exhibiting at the Camping and Outdoor Leisure Association (COLA) Show in Harrogate, who Guild members felt had made an outstanding contribution to the outdoors.<br /> Award Winners<br /> 1982: Phoenix Mountaineering<br /> 1983: Berghaus <br /> 1984: Carrington Performance Fabrics <br /> 1985: Robert Saunders<br /> 1986: Buffalo<br /> 1987: Conway Trailers Ltd <br /> 1988: Nick Brown (Nikwax) <br /> 1989: Captain Harrison <br /> 1990: Chris Brasher (Brasher Boot Company)<br /> 1991: Mike Parsons (Karrimor) <br /> 1992: Gordon Conyers <br /> 1993: Gordon Davison/Peter Lockey<br /> 1994: Ben Lyon<br /> 1995:Harvey Maps <br /> 1996: Nick Brown (Páramo) <br /> 1997: Bill Wilkins <br /> 1998: Not awarded
The Guild presents a Lifetime Achievement Award "on an occasional basis to one of our own members for outstanding work in our professional field of outdoor writing, photography, or related fields".
it has been awarded twice:
2014: Kev Reynolds <br /> 2015: Hamish Brown <br />
The OWPG is proud to work with various Award Sponsors/Associate Members who support the Guild and are for the benefit of users, suppliers, the environment, OWPG members and the outdoors community generally. Currently, the OWPG closely works with Cicerone Press, Conway Publishing, Cordee, and Crimson/Pathfinder Guides. <br />