Artist and lecturer, born at Birkenhead, Merseyside, who studied at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1977–81; Edinburgh College of Art, 1982–3; then was a Monbusho Scholar, Painting School of Kyoto University of Arts, Japan, 1985–7. She was artist-in-residence, Burford House and John Treasure’s Garden, Worcestershire, 1996; had a Grizedale visual arts residency, Grizedale Forest, Cumbria, 1998; an invited artist residency, Villa Romana, Florence, Italy, 2000; was artist-in-residence, Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham, 2003; then held a Time & Space Residency, Metal, 2003–4. From 1998, she was an associate lecturer at the University of Northumbria, based in Haydon Bridge. Bowen won a series of Northern Arts Awards and Grants from 1990, other awards including a Lowick House Printmaking Bursary, 1992; British Council Visitorship to India, 1995; a Northern Print Award, 1996; and second prize, Jerwood Drawing Prize, 2001.