Stroud District Council has launched the next phase of its sustainable travel and tourism campaign with the unveiling of a newly painted bus featuring vibrant artwork by local illustrator Isabella Fay.
The eye-catching design, inspired by Stroud Farmers’ Market, is now turning heads on busses travelling through Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud. The first bus was revealed at the Stroud depot, giving Isabella the chance to see her artwork brought to life at full scale for the first time.
This latest step builds on the council’s 2025 poster campaign, which showcased the district at major Great Western Railway stations including London Paddington, Bristol, Reading, Swindon, Gloucester and Cheltenham. That campaign featured three bespoke artworks by Isabella celebrating the district’s markets, canals and green spaces.
Together, the adverts champion what makes the district distinctive while encouraging visitors to choose more sustainable ways to explore – whether that’s by train, bus or a combination of both.
Amy Helliwell, SDC’s Tourism Officer said: “This campaign celebrates everything that makes Stroud special, from our vibrant markets to our strong creative community. By promoting sustainable ways to visit, we are supporting our local economy, reducing our environmental impact and championing local talent like Isabella.”
Artist Isabella Fay said: “Having grown up in the Stroud district myself and now living and working here as a freelance illustrator, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to work with SDC on this incredible project. The whole process – from initial design planning, to the final large-scale executions – has been really enjoyable. Seeing the posters up in-person, firstly at the train stations and now on buses too, has been such a surreal feeling.
“The council’s aim to promote sustainable methods of travel is really important. The posters have worked well at attracting visitors via train from larger cities, all the way up to London, whilst the buses adverts have done a wonderful job at encouraging visitors from nearby towns. I am proud to be from such a beautiful part of the country, and to now have the chance to represent it through my artwork has been amazing.”
The newly painted bus will be soon joined by two more featuring the canal and commons artwork, and offer a striking and highly visible way to promote the district to thousands of passengers and road users each day, reinforcing the council’s commitment to greener travel and sustainable tourism.
Posters of Isabella’s Stroud artwork are available to buy directly from her at Isabella Fay Arts
For information on how to reach Stroud district and what to see and do once you’re here, see Visit the Stroud District
