Photography jobs in Guildford

Gallery Operations & Sales Assistant

Forest Gallery – Peasmarsh & Petworth
Full-time | Tuesday–Saturday
Starting salary: £25,000 per annum

Initial salary progression: Formal review on successful completion of the 6-month probationary period, with potential progression to £26,000–£28,000 per annum, depending on performance.

About Forest Gallery

Forest Gallery is a family-run independent art gallery established in 1980, specialising in original paintings, limited editions and sculpture.

With galleries in Peasmarsh and Petworth, we are looking for a warm, outgoing, highly organised and commercially minded Gallery Operations & Sales Assistant to become an important part of our small team.

This is a varied, hands-on role combining customer service, sales, administration, logistics, artwork handling and day-to-day gallery operations across both locations.

No two days are the same

Forest Gallery is a busy, dynamic small business where priorities can change quickly depending on customers, sales, incoming artworks, deliveries and appointments.

One moment you might be chatting with a customer about a painting; the next you could be processing their order, checking the condition of an incoming artwork, arranging a courier or organising something needed at our other gallery.

The right person will enjoy variety, adapt calmly when priorities change and have the common sense to work out what needs attention next — without losing sight of the details.

The role

Your responsibilities will include:

• Welcoming customers and creating a warm, engaging gallery experience
• Starting conversations naturally and developing the confidence to turn genuine interest into sales
• Learning about our artists and artworks and discussing them enthusiastically with customers
• Processing sales and customer orders accurately
• Packing artworks safely and professionally
• Booking and monitoring UK and international couriers
• Receiving deliveries and carefully checking artworks for damage, condition issues or anything that does not look right
• Handling artworks with exceptional care and immediately communicating any concerns
• Coordinating artworks and stock between Peasmarsh and Petworth
• Maintaining accurate customer, order and stock information
• Preparing for appointments, private viewings, photography and gallery activities
• Monitoring deadlines and following tasks through without needing to be chased
• Supporting the wider team wherever required
• Using initiative to support customers and the wider gallery operation

The person we're looking for

Personality and attitude are extremely important in our small team.

You should be:

• Warm, chatty and naturally engaging — someone who genuinely enjoys customers and conversation
• Commercially minded, with either good sales ability already or the potential and enthusiasm to develop it
• Exceptionally attentive to detail — both when working with information and when physically handling or inspecting valuable artworks
• Naturally observant — if an artwork has a mark, damaged corner, unusual surface, incorrect label or anything else that appears wrong, we need you to notice it
• Strong on practical common sense and able to think logically when something unexpected happens
• A big team player who naturally asks, "How can I help?"
• Equally capable of working independently and taking ownership
• Proactive and comfortable communicating problems early
• Highly organised, even when managing several priorities at once
• You don't need to know everything from day one. What matters is being willing to learn, asking when unsure and becoming increasingly confident and independent.

Strong PC skills are essential

You should be comfortable using email, web-based systems and standard office software, as well as being confident learning new systems.

The role involves regular data entry, including customer details, orders, prices, addresses, stock information and courier bookings, so accuracy and attention to detail are extremely important.

Previous data-entry, order-processing, database or CRM experience would be a strong advantage.

Initiative

We want someone who doesn't simply wait for instructions.

As you learn the business, we want you to notice potential problems, sales opportunities and ways to improve customer experience, logistics or how our two galleries work together.

This role would particularly suit you if...

You enjoy the combination of people + sales + organisation + practical problem-solving.

It is unlikely to suit someone looking for a desk-only position, a purely creative role, a highly predictable routine or a job where every task is allocated by somebody else.

We are looking for someone whose natural reaction to a busy day is:

"What needs to happen next, what is most important, and how can I help?"

Hours, location & salary

Starting salary: £25,000 per annum

Initial salary progression: Formal review on successful completion of the 6-month probationary period, with potential progression to £26,000–£28,000 per annum, depending on performance.

Working days: Tuesday–Saturday
Typical working hours: 9:00am–5:00pm, including a 30-minute unpaid lunch break
Paid hours: 37.5 hours per week
Locations: Working across our Peasmarsh and Petworth galleries as required
Driving licence: Full UK driving licence required
Reliable access to a car: Required due to our locations and the nature of the role

On-site staff parking is available at Peasmarsh. Although there is no staff parking at Petworth, free local parking is available approximately 10 minutes' walk from the gallery.

Progression

We are looking for someone interested in developing a long-term career with Forest Gallery. As you gain experience and confidence, there will be opportunities to take on greater responsibility and develop your strengths within the business.

Why join Forest Gallery?

• Join a long-established independent family gallery
• Work with beautiful original artworks and an established clientele
• Be part of a friendly, close-knit team
• Enjoy a varied and hands-on working environment
• Gain broad experience across sales, customer service and gallery operations
• Have your ideas and initiative genuinely valued
• Opportunity for increasing responsibility and progression
• Employee discount
• On-site parking at Peasmarsh
• Team social activities

How to apply

Please apply with your CV and a short covering letter explaining why a role combining customers, sales and hands-on gallery operations appeals to you.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From £25,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• On-site parking

Application question(s):

• Do you see this as a long term career move (3+ years)?
• Do you have reliable access to a car for travelling to/between our Peasmarsh and Petworth galleries?
• Are you able to work Tuesday–Saturday every week?

Education:

• A-Level or equivalent (required)

Experience:

• Sales: 1 year (preferred)
• Administration, order processing or operations: 1 year (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work Location: In person