about

Ann Bowen is an award winning freelance calligrapher, heraldic artist and teacher. 

Studied all aspects of lettering, heraldry & illumination at Reigate School of Art & Design, East Surrey, graduating  with distinction in 1996.  Awarded the Scriveners Prize for outstanding performance in Heraldic Art & Calligraphy from the Worshipful Company of Scriveners in 1996.  Granted The Freedom of the City in 1998, and became a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers in 2006. 

Works for design consultants, publishers, events and film companies. 

In 1997 had a major commission from Linda McCartney for Sir Paul McCartney.

Clients include:

Events

  1. Louis Vuitton

  2. Harrods

  3. Atom Events

Editorial

  1. Visionaire

  2. Design Eye

  3. New Woman Magazine

Heraldry, Gilding & Books of Remembrance

  1. Sandhurst Royal Memorial Chapel

  2. St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street

  3. Bristol University

Design, Branding, Publishing

  1. The Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour

  2. Annoushka

  3. AT&T

  4. Qantas

  5. Marks & Spencer

  6. Interbrand

  7. The British Psychological Society

  8. Quintet Publishing

  9. SPCK Publishing

  10. Book Tokens Ltd

  11. The Pulse Group

  12. The Gaelic Arts Agency

Film, TV & Games

  1. Far From the Madding Crowd:  2014

  2. Outlander: 2013

  3. Closed, 2012

  4. Dark Shadows, 2012

  5. Taiwanese animated commercial for Johnnie Walker 2011

  6. Burke & Hare, 2010

  7. Sherlock Holmes: Jude Law, Robert Downey Jnr., 2009

  8. Amazing Grace: Ioan Gruffud, Romola Garai, 2006

  9. Wimbledon: Paul Bettany,  Kirsten Dunst, 2004

  10. BBC: To Walk Invisible, Drama about The Bronte Sisters 2016

  11. BBC: Hollow Crown II: 2014

  12. USA:  The Jesus Code Series 2014

  13. AMC TV pilot Knifeman: 2014

  14. BBC & PBS USA: Mayflower Pilgrims 2014

  15. BBC: The Crimson Petal and the White 2011

  16. BBC: Bleak House,

  17.         The life of Anthony Trollope

  18. ITV: Lewis

  19. ITV commercial:  Baxters Soup, live shots of writing

  20. 221B.sh: Hide and Seek, AKQA, 2009

Books include

  1. The Complete Calligraphy Set by Ann Bowen published by Reader’s Digest

Contributions to other books

  1. Gilding by Design Eye
    The Great Book of Gaelic published by Canongate, in collaboration with other artists
    The Country Diary - Calligraphy by Kudos

Exhibitions and demonstrations       

    Calligraphy Lecture - at Imperial College, London, 2016, invited by SSI

     City Livery Schools Link Showcase Event & Demonstration - London 2014/2015/2016

    Letter Exchange Exhibition -  26 Words - ‘Exploring the DNA of Language’ 2014,  London, Bruges

     Letter Exchange Exhibition - ‘Words Set Free’ - Free Word Centre, London, & Bruges 2012/13

  1. Painter Stainers Livery Company, Fine Arts Exhibition - Demonstrating Gilding with gold leaf on gesso 2012

  2. Painter Stainers Livery Company, Fine Arts Exhibition, 2006/07/08/09/10/11/12/13/14/15/16

  3. ‘Meet the Experts Day’ - Harrods 2010

  4. The Arts Club, Mayfair, London, Exhibiting from 2005,06/07/08/09

  5. Grace Barrand Design Centre, Surrey 2001/02/05/08

  6. Walford Mill Crafts, Wimborne, Dorset, 2006

  7. Haiku Exhibition, Brighton, 2003

  8. Letter Exchange 15th Anniversary exhibition at the Prince’s Foundation, London, 2003

  9. St Martins-in-the-Fields Crypt, 2002

  10. Penshurst Place, Stonor, 2001

  11. Art in Action, teaching and demonstration, 1999/2000/2003

  12. Surrey Guild of Craftsmen, 2000

  13. Craft Millennium Salon International Exhibition at Barts Hospital, The Great Hall, 2000

  14. Wolseley Fine Arts Gallery, London, 'Interpretations of David Jones', 1999

  15. Dartington Cider Press, lettering exhibition, 1998

  16. Loseley Craft Fayre, 1998

  17. Heritage Open Weekend, Hove, 1998

  18. Olympia - ICHF - Brighton & Birmingham, 1997  

Magazines/Journals

  1. Creative Review

  2. Letter Arts Review (international)

Societies and Clubs

  1. Full Member of Letter Exchange since 1998.  It promotes professionalism and excellence in the art of all categories of lettering.


  2. Member of the Arts Club, Mayfair, London since 2005


Types of work undertaken

Calligraphy for:

Wedding invitations, event invitations, menus, placecards, painted letters on ceramic, glass, wood or cloth, certificate designs, design for print, lettering for CD covers, book jackets, brochures, creative design, company branding, logos, illuminated freedom scrolls, heraldry, painted coats of arms, gilding, Books of Remembrance, Legacy Book designs, framed lettering for births, illuminated personalised letters, private commissions, family trees, banner designs both lettering and heraldry.










                                             Livery Schools Link  - in London 2015

                                     Photographer - David Hodgkinson of Sweet Moon

Ann Bowen

calligrapher