A new bespoke artwork celebrating Preston’s heritage, innovation, and cultural life has been unveiled at Bowker BMW.
Titled ‘The Preston Stretch,’ the panoramic illustration by Lancashire artist Kathryn Alice Olley blends hand-drawn architecture with the city’s most famous faces.
The artwork features landmarks, people and stories that connect Bowker BMW to the city its serves. It includes nods to Preston’s sporting legends, such as Sir Tom Finney and Freddie Flintoff, alongside historical figures like Joseph Livesey and Edmund Robert Harris.
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Cultural references include appearances by Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park and Oscar-winning contralto Kathleen Ferrier.
The artwork also features the Bowker BMW building itself, the 1980 BMW M1, and references to the company’s origins as W. H. Bowker Transport in 1919.
Kathryn Olley said: “I wanted to celebrate the people, places and stories that make Preston what it is. There’s history, humour, and plenty of Easter eggs to spot. It’s a city with depth and grit – and I hope that comes through in the artwork.”
Preston’s architecture and civic spaces are also represented, from the Harris Museum and Miller Arcade to Winckley Square and the Preston Bus Station.
Elements of modern Preston – including the Animate leisure complex, the Guild Wheel and the university campus – are illustrated alongside humorous touches such as Dennis the Menace, Phoenix Nights characters and local street food favourites.
Bowker BMW has longstanding ties to the local area, with its Preston history dating back to the 1980s.
The collaboration with Olley builds on Bowker’s ongoing support for the arts, including sponsorships with the Sir Tom Finney Preston Soccer Centre and the Preston Symphony Orchestra.
Amy Lancaster, Bowker Group marketing manager, said: “Kathryn’s illustration captures so much of what makes Preston unique – not just the buildings, but the people, pride and culture. It’s been brilliant to work together on something that celebrates the city in such a creative way.”
A framed version of The Preston Stretch will be displayed at Bowker BMW’s Preston Centre, with limited-edition prints also available.
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