Bill Owen was born in 1942 in Gila Bend, Arizona, to a father who had been a cowboy throughout the early 1900’s and a mother who was and is an artist. These early influences shaped his desire to be an artist, and cultivated his interest in the cowboy lifestyle.

At the early age of seven or eight, Bill began drawing and painting with watercolor, beginning the never-ending process of education in art. Growing up and working on numerous ranhes gave him experiences that provided him with subject matter for his future endeavors, and more importantly, first-hand knowledge. He knows what he draws, paints, and sculpts, because he’s lived it.

Without any formal art training, Bill developed his God-given talent through many years of hard work, being observant, and learning from other artists. Two artists he credits with being most helpful throughout his career are Joe Beeler and Tom Ryan.

In 1973, Bill became the youngest ever to be accepted and inducted into the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America. Since that time, Bill has earned a total of 25 medals and awards at the annual CAA Show.

Bill has exhibited at the Whitney Museum in Cody, Wyoming, the Grand Palais in Paris, France, and at the Western Art Show in Beijing, China. In 1991 Bill was voted into the National Academy of Western Artists, and in 1993 became a member and staff artist of Rancheros Visitadores, and that same year he was awarded the Frederic Remington Award for Artistic Merit by the Cowboy Hall of Fame. In 1996 the prestigious Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma honored Bill as their Rendezvous Artist. Most recently, Bill's talents were recognized and he was once again honored when he became the first recipient of Express Ranches Great American Cowboy Award presented at the Prix de West Invitational Show which was held June 14, 2003.Within the spectrum of men known to be a true “cowboy” there are only a special few left with the skilled experience necessary to meet the tasks of working in rough, brushy country, catching wild cattle and leading them in. Bill believes it is quite possible this type of cowboy will disappear within his lifetime or shortly thereafter, which compels him to record their way of life.

In 1989, while practicing team roping for an upcoming rodeo, Bill survived a freak accident, which resulted in the loss of sight in his right eye. Bill soon learned he could no longer sculpt due to the loss of depth perception. Sculpture had been a part of Bill's art that he truly enjoyed and he missed being able to turn to it when he needed to take a break from drawing or painting. In October 18, 2002, Bill presented his first sculpture in thirteen years at the 37th Annual Cowboy Artists of America Show, The Longhorn, and it was very well received.