David Yoon — Frankly In Love
A cover design commissioned by Penguin Random House for David Yoon’s debut novel Frankly in Love, a contemporary realistic fiction covering themes of race, romance and cultural identity. The brief asked Owen to reflect these themes through the use of typography, in his signature bright and bold style, whilst remaining conscious of the more subversive themes of the novel.
Winner – The Academy of British Cover Design
Winner – Communication Arts Typography Annual Award
Winner – Communication Arts Typography Annual Award
Sarah Hall — Burntcoat
Cover artwork for Sarah Hall’s YA novel, about an artist in lockdown at her immense studio Burntcoat, whilst the world around her burns. Tasked with creating something dramatic with depth and using a warm palette, Owen's artwork was inspired by the book’s narrative of fire, flames and burning wood, featuring a lit match at the centre, radiating with a gradient of energetic graphic flames.
Winner – Art Director's Club 101st Award
Zadie Smith — Intimations
Intimations is a short and timely series of reflective essays written by Zadie Smith during the early months of lockdown. Suffused with a profound intimacy and tenderness in response to these extraordinary times, the book offers a space to reflect on what had happened at this time and what should come next. For the cover Zadie Smith approached Penguin Random House with an image from Owen's personal series Shadow Spaces, created in collaboration with photographer Stephen Lenthall. The series studies the relationship between space, form, light and its natural counterpart shadow, featuring a series of miniature handcrafted paper architectural spaces, using hard lighting to define the forms and bring these contemplative environments to life.
Shortlisted – World Illustration Awards 2021
Holly Webb — Earth Friends
Owen was commissioned by Nosy Crow to create a new set of covers, in his signature paper-cut style, for best-selling author Holly Webb’s Earth Friends series, which included the books Green Garden, Pet Protection, River Rescue and Fair Fashion. The book series is aimed for ages 7-12, and follows four friends who want to make the world a better place, with a focus on climate change.
Helen Hiebert — The Art of Paper Craft
Owen was approached by Storey Publishing to create the cover of paper artist and teacher Helen Hiebert's book 'The Art of Papercraft', a collection of 40 unique projects, each using just one sheet of paper. The result was a bold hand-crafted design, created in Owen's signature graphic layered style.
