Celebrity partners in pictures

Politicians, actors, presenters and sportspeople have all teamed up with renowned photographer Adrian Houston to raise funds for national charity Guide Dogs.

The Amazing Partnerships photography exhibition, sponsored by Specsavers, aims to raise awareness of the profound relationship between a guide dog and their owner, through images of more than 20 celebrities with their own dogs.

The photographs will be on display at the Haunch of Venison Art Gallery in Burlington Gardens, London, on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November. You can preview the images on the Giving Lots website. The photos will be available to bid on at auction, with all proceeds going to Guide Dogs to pay for the training and placement of a further 800 dogs.

Colette Craddock, Guide Dogs Amazing Partnership exhibition manager, says: ‘Adrian has really captured the essence of an amazing partnership in each of his photographs and I’d encourage everyone to come down to the Haunch of Venison Gallery for this exclusive peek into some celebrity lives.

‘We can’t thank Adrian, the celebrities and our sponsors Specsavers enough for all their support. Without them we could not continue to improve our offering.’

Added Adrian Houston: “The powerful bond between humans and companion animals is at the heart of what the Guide Dogs for the Blind organisation is all about. It is also something that I used as the inspiration for this project. What struck me most about all the subjects that I photographed was the bond of unconditional love that existed between them and their canine companions. This is something that I hope I have managed to capture.”

Dame Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers says: ‘We have supported Guide Dogs for many years and continue to help raise funds to train and place guide dogs. The Amazing Partnerships exhibition of celebrity photographs is a great way to illustrate the special bond that exists between an owner and their pet, which is something that we’re delighted to be able to support.’

Specsavers stores and customers have also been supporting the Amazing Partnerships campaign with a nationwide photography competition. Members of the public have been invited to submit a photograph of their own, which captures an amazing partnership. Ten regional winners from across the country will be selected to feature alongside Adrian Houston’s portraits at the Haunch of Venison Gallery during the exhibition.

To request an invitation to the Guide Dogs Amazing Partnerships exhibition sponsored by Specsavers or to place a bid on any of the celebrity amazing partnerships photographs, please contact major.relationships@guidedogs.org.uk or call 0118 983 8350.

For further information visit the Amazing Partnerships pages of the Guide Dogs website.