Owen was born about 1768. Nothing is recorded of him before 1791, when he exhibited "A Sea View" at the Royal Academy. This was followed in 1797, after the victory of Cape St. Vincent, by "A View of the British and Spanish Fleets", and, in 1799, by three drawings of the engagement between HMS Director (under Captain Bligh) and Vryheid (Admiral De Winter) in the Battle of Camperdown on 11 October 1797.

In 1808 he joined the "Associated Artists in Water-Colours", and sent eleven drawings of shipping and marine subjects to the first exhibition of that short-lived body. He also exhibited twelve works in 1809, and six in 1810, but after that date resigned his membership. His works were carefully drawn and freshly coloured, with great attention to the details of shipping.

Owen died at Sunbury in Surrey, on 8 December 1867, in his 89th year, but had long before ceased to practise his art