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Meet the Artist- Owen Gent

Our ongoing "Meet the Artist" series lets you learn more about your favourite illustrators working with Crosstown Prints. Our fun Q&As let the artists talk more about their artistic process and interests in their own words.

 

 

Owen Gent Artist Headshot
We were delighted to have a chat with Bristol-based illustrator Owen Gent. His surreal and graphic style is influenced by poetry, music and literature, lending itself well to the artwork he has produced for such prestigious clients as Penguin Random House, The New Yorker, The Economist, BBC, Amnesty International  and The New York Times. Using a blend of traditional and digital techniques, Owen creates high impact, editorial illustrations with a philosophical edge. We are so happy with the print "El Oso y El Madroño (The Bear and the Strawberry Tree)" that he has created for us thus far and look forward to featuring more of his designs in the future!  

 

How did you get into illustration and design?

I’ve always been a painter for as long as I can remember but the journey to being an illustrator really began when I started studying Illustration at Falmouth University around 10 years ago.

What is your creative process, what are your go-to tools & media?

My work combines traditional and digital techniques. This gives me the opportunity to work with brushes, watercolours and paper and capture those marks and textures, whilst having the freedom that comes with editing work digitally in Photoshop.

The Bear and The Strawberry Tree

From where do you draw inspiration?

Much of my inspiration comes from outside the world of illustration and I often look towards traditional fine artists as well as poetry, literature and music.   

What have been some of your favourite collaborations or projects to date? 

I recently worked on a campaign with Amnesty International which was a great thing to be able to do. Most of the projects I do are a lot of fun and I learn a lot, but I believe so much in the work of Amnesty, it was an honour to help them fight against injustice and inequality everywhere.

If you weren’t an artist what would you like to do?

One of the main things in my life outside of my illustration work is working with my hands and building things, mostly from wood. I’d love to learn carpentry, there’s so much joy in changing the form of something and being able to live with an object you’ve created everyday.

Which person or celebrity owning your artwork would be the ultimate dream?

I can honestly say that I am touched whenever anyone wishes to have a piece of my work on a wall in their home, workshop, studio or wherever, it really means a lot. I’m sure if I found out Thom Yorke had one of my prints in his downstairs toilet I’d be pretty happy with that.

 

 

What to know more about Owen and his work? Check out her artist profile here

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