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Photography student creates special calendar to support important work of Gloucestershire charity

A special calendar brought to life by a University of Gloucestershire student is supporting the important work of a Gloucestershire charity providing a lifeline to those affected by sexual violence.

Rianna Bell-Raven (main image) collaborated with the senior management team of the Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) to produce the Dogs of GRASAC calendar featuring heartwarming images of pets belonging to the charity’s staff, volunteers and trustees.

Rianna volunteered her time and talent to photograph the furry friends while working towards a degree in Photography: Editorial and Advertising at the University, from which she recently graduated with first-class honours.

All proceeds from sales of the calendar will go directly to GRASAC – the University of Gloucestershire Chancellor’s Charity – to enable the organisation to offer more services and reach more people in need of its support.

a dog lying down with a ball
The cute canine featured for the month of January in the Dogs of GRASAC calendar (credit Rianna Bell-Raven/GRASAC)

Rianna said: “During my second year of university I was approached by GRASAC to work together on the calendar. My course leader, Trudie Ballantyne, referred them to me because of my previous experience in animal portraiture and my love of such work. Trudie truly puts a lot of thought and care into her students’ work and interests and, of course, this was right up my street.

“I have always had a passion for animals, especially dogs.  My animal portraiture work started from taking images of my own dog Dusty and grew from there. This love of dogs was also shared by the staff of GRASAC and it was so amazing for me to get to know the staff and their furry friends.

“The work they do at GRASAC is so important, and to know that the work I was doing would be able to support them was a true privilege. 

“This collaboration was a great learning process for me. I learnt new ways of photographing as well as new ways of working with the dogs. I love learning the personality and quirks of different dogs, and each and every one of them taught me something new.  

“I hope everyone who purchases a calendar to support the incredible work of GRASAC can see the love and hard work that went into it. I hope everyone enjoys the images and that the calendar has made more people aware of GRASAC.”

Two of the dogs featured in the Dogs of GRASAC calendar
The delightful duo featuring for the month of April in the Dogs of GRASAC calendar (credit Rianna Bell-Raven/GRASAC)

Trudie Ballantyne, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Photography: Editorial and Advertising, said: “We are thrilled that Rianna has successfully produced a stunning calendar in collaboration with GRASAC’s senior management team.

“We are immensely proud of Rianna’s achievement and the positive impact this project has made on her and GRASAC. The project not only allowed Rianna to showcase her photography skills, particularly her passion for capturing the essence of dogs, but also built upon her previous experience working at the headquarters of the Kennel Club during her second-year placement.

“Engaging with live briefs is a fundamental aspect of our course, providing our students with invaluable real-world experience, fostering professionalism, creativity and innovation.

“This partnership with GRSAC exemplifies our commitment to fostering creativity and supporting charitable organisations, paving the way for future collaborations.”

Rachel Howells, a Team Leader at GRASAC, said: “We are thrilled to continue our wonderful relationship with University of Gloucestershire and are so grateful for its continued support, including as the Chancellor’s Charity.

“The Dogs of GRASAC Calendar is a true celebration of this partnership, brought to life by the incredible work of Rianna, who volunteered her time and talent to create something truly special.”

Anyone interested in finding out how they can support GRASAC should contact the charity at [email protected]