With Dagenham’s legacy of automotive technology, activism and community spirit as our foundation, we partnered with The Hill Group and Peabody to put their new development, Dagenham Green, firmly on the map. By celebrating the area’s past while looking ahead to its future, we crafted a campaign that felt unmistakably ‘Made in Dagenham’.
Working with celebrated street artist Mr. Penfold, at the campaign’s heart was the creation of a striking artistic reimagining of a historic car that was built at the original Ford factory site in1966, boldly installed outside the development. Injecting vibrant colour into the town’s landscape, the art installation creates an irresistible talking point for everyone who passes by.
On 22 January, our vision came to life with the unveiling event of a restored 1966 MK1 Ford Cortina; transformed and revealed live by Penfold into a vibrant public artwork. As onlookers watched, the car was displayed as a powerful symbol of the area’s industrial legacy and the new neighbourhood now emerging.
The event brought together local leaders, including the Cllr Princess Bright, the Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, Margaret Mullane, MP for Dagenham and Rainham, charities and residents, including Tracy Goodman, daughter of sewing machinist and women’s rights campaigner Dora Challingsworth. Tracy’s speech honouring the women who led the 1968 and 1984 Ford sewing machinists’ strikes added emotional depth and connected the artwork to Dagenham’s proud history of activism.
Ahead of the unveiling, Penfold also hosted a creative workshop with young people from Future Youth Zone, giving them a chance to explore colour, collage and imagination; and to feel part of the wider story.
The finished Cortina now sits atop a decorated shipping container at Dagenham Green, where it will remain for several months before heading to The Art Gallery at Escapade Silverstone for exhibition during the 2026 Grand Prix.
For us, this project was about more than event delivery. It was about crafting a narrative that connected people to place; celebrating Dagenham’s heritage while helping introduce a new chapter for the community.