William Owen

Who was William Owen?

William Owen was an English society portrait painter working in London. William Owen was born at 13 Broad Street, Ludlow, Shropshire in 1769 and was baptized on 3 November in Ludlow Parish Church. Owen’s father, Jeremiah Owen, had trained for the church but instead chose to follow in his father’s profession and took over the family barber shop which he later expanded into a stationary and bookshop. Owen found his talent at a young age, and would frequently be found sketching the scenery of his surrounding area, his first work being a drawing of Ludlow castle which is thought to have been given to Margaret Maskelyne, Lady Clive.