Our Story

Our story began in 1968, when three ambitious architects came together to form a new kind of practice. Faced with choosing a location that could serve the commercial centres of both Leeds and Manchester, they stuck a pin in the map – and landed on Skipton, a historic market town on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. That spirit of practicality, ingenuity, and bold thinking has guided us ever since.

From the outset, Bowman Riley was built on a commitment to design excellence, relationships built on openness, honesty, and creative thinking. These founding values continue to define who we are today. Many of our original clients remain with us with partnerships that span decades and speak volumes about the trust and value we bring.

As we grew, so did our reach. In the early 2000s, we expanded into Leeds city centre, placing ourselves at the heart of one of the UK’s most vibrant urban environments. In 2012, we extended our footprint further south with a central London office, cementing our presence on a national scale.

But our story is far from over. Today, Bowman Riley is a dynamic, forward-thinking architecture practice offering strong complementary services including interior design, building surveying, conservation, and principal designer services across the UK.

Led by Managing Director Michael Feather and supported by our talented senior leadership team of Colin Briggs-Campbell, Darren Bush, Dan Heward, Samantha Jevons, April Marsden, Craig Mewse, Tony Pleasants and James Ross – we are more than 70 professionals strong, united by a shared vision:

Looking ahead, our journey is focused on growth, innovation and sustainability. We are continually learning, evolving, and embracing new technologies and ways of working. Agile and collaborative by nature, we adapt to meet the needs of a changing world, all while staying true to the values that set us apart: excellence, inclusivity, integrity and creativity.

We are not just designing buildings. We are shaping the future of our towns, cities, and communities. Wherever we go next, we are taking our clients, our values, and our purpose with us.

 

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