Douglas Bowman was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England on 15 September 1890, the son of the architect George Frederick Bowman (1860-1921) to whom he was articled. He also attended Leeds School of Architecture and Leeds Technical School. He was subsequently in partnership with his father as G. F. Bowman & Son in Leeds and continued the practice with the title unchanged following the death of his father in 1921. He was Surveyor to the Leeds City & District Permanent Building Society.
Douglas Bowman was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1930. He was also a member of the Leeds and West Yorkshire Architectural Society and its Vice-President in 1925-26.
His address was given as "Park Lodge" Park Avenue, Roundhay, Yorkshire in 1911; Barkston Ash, West Yorkshire, England in 1913 and 1915; 5, Greek Street, Leeds in 1923 and 1926; 18 Park Row, Leeds in 1939; and 48 The Drive, Roundhay, Leeds in 1941. He died in Leeds on 3 March 1941.
conjunction with the late G. F. Bowman: works and offices for the Kirby Banks Screw Co., Ltd., Beeston, Leeds; weaving shed, Ossett, for Tennant and Rodley, Ltd.; works (cloth), Leeds, for Arthur Harrison and Co., Ltd.; dye works extensions, Leeds, for John Crockatt, Ltd.; clothing factory, North Street, Leeds, for Heatons (Leeds), Ltd.; works, water Lane, for Harding, Richardson and Co., Ltd.; the Wellington Picture House, Leeds; City of Leeds Tramways offices, etc. As sole architect: the Gaiety Kinema, Leeds, 1921: offices, Leeds, for Arthur Harrison and Co., Ltd., 1922; shop premises, Leeds, 1922; nurses' dining hall, "Township Infirmary," Leeds, 1923; new offices for Finder and Co., (Leeds), Ltd., 1922; works remodelling for Yorkshire Nitrogen Co., Ltd., 1923; residences at Roundhay, Leeds. 1924; Nurses' Home extension. Township Infirmary, 1924-25;
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001