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 ‘Words and Pictures from the Outdoors’. Today’s 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 over 150 members and is run by a committee of members. The current chair is the prolific writer and journalist Stan Abbott. His predecessor, whom he succeeded in October 2021, was the mountaineering writer and Boardman Tasker winner, Peter Gillman, who was chair for five years, and is now the guild's vice-chair. 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.

Awards

The Guild annually presents Awards for Excellence, which are open to members only, as well as a number of other awards to confirm its links with the outdoor trade. Awards which members can enter include Outdoor Article/Feature, Technical Article/Feature, Guidebook, Photography, Digital, Outdoor Book Recent winners can be found on the OWPG website under "Awards". These include the prestigious Derryck Draper Award for Innovation, and the Golden Eagle Award, presented annually people who have 'rendered distinguished or meritorious service to the outdoors generally'.

Golden Eagle Award

The Golden Eagle Award, an original watercolour painting by Guild member, David Bellamy, is presented to a person who has rendered distinguished or meritorious service to the outdoors generally. Past recipients have been: 2022: Nick Owen MBE 2019-21: Not awarded 2018: Chris Packham 2017: Richard Fox 2015–16: no award 2014: John Grimshaw 2013: No award 2012: Dr Adam Watson 2011: Bill Bryson 2010: Jonathan Williams 2009: Marion Shoard 2008: Sir Chris Bonington CBE 2007: W. R. 'Bill' Mitchell MBE 2006: Kate Ashbrook and Robin and Sue Harvey 2005: Doug Scott CBE 2004: Sir David Attenborough 2003: Alan Blackshaw and Cedric Robinson MBE 2002: John Cleare 2001: Tom Weir 2000: Irvine Butterfield 1999: Chris Brasher CBE 1998: Alan Mattingly 1997: Dr Rennie McOwan 1996: Walt Unsworth 1995: Ken Wilson

OWPG Award for Technical Innovation (formerly the Derryck Draper Award)

Award winners since 2022 2022: Garmin inReach Mini2 From 2006 to 2021, the former "OWG Crystal award" was renamed in memory of one of the Guild’s founder members and a past Chairman, Derryck Draper. Award winners 2006-2021 2021: PrimaLoft® P.U.R.E.™ (Produced Using Reduced Emissions) 2020: Not awarded 2019: Not awarded 2018: Not awarded 2017: Outdoor Design Logistics X-tex breathable fabric for single skin tents 2016: Pertex CS10 Technology fabric 2015: Osprey’s suspended AntiGravity™ backsystem 2014: Primaloft Down Blend Insulation 2013: Brunton Hydrogen Reactor 2012: Biolite Campstove 2011: Neoshell Fabric by Polartec 2010: Laser Photon tent by TerraNova 2009: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir mattress by Cascade Designs 2008: Teko socks system 2007: Satmap Active 10 GPS 2006: Steripen

Crystal Award

The Outdoor Writers Guild Crystal Award replaced the Golden Boot Award in 1999. It was presented for ‘innovation in the outdoors generally’. Award winners 1999: Perseverance Mills (Pertex) 2000: Brasher Boot Company 2001: Nextec (Encapsulated Fabrics) 2002: GoLite 2003: Not awarded 2004: Lyon Equipment

Golden Boot Award

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. Award Winners 1982: Phoenix Mountaineering 1983: Berghaus 1984: Carrington Performance Fabrics 1985: Robert Saunders 1986: Buffalo 1987: Conway Trailers Ltd 1988: Nick Brown (Nikwax) 1989: Captain Harrison 1990: Chris Brasher (Brasher Boot Company) 1991: Mike Parsons (Karrimor) 1992: Gordon Conyers 1993: Gordon Davison/Peter Lockey 1994: Ben Lyon 1995:Harvey Maps 1996: Nick Brown (Páramo) 1997: Bill Wilkins 1998: Not awarded

Lifetime Achievement Award

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: 2015: Hamish Brown 2014: Kev Reynolds

Associate Members

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 Aquapac, Cicerone Press, Conway Publishing, Cordee, and Crimson/Pathfinder Guides.