Brought up in Liverpool, Harry became a teacher in 1970, beginning his career in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. He then spent several years in California as an English teacher and soccer coach before returning to Liverpool in 1982. For more than ten years he taught in the inner city before eventually moving closer to his present home in Cheshire.
Despite (or perhaps because of) his urban background, he has a deep love of the countryside and the natural environment, often spending his holidays in such tranquil locations as west Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Harry lives and works in Congleton, Cheshire, where he is an active member and former Chairman of Congleton Writers Forum.
Harry Owen's first full poetry collection, Searching for Machynlleth, is now in its third (limited) edition commemorating his Showcase event at the 2003 Chester Literature Festival. His second, The Music of Ourselves, is centred on Harry's year as the Cheshire Poet Laureate and provides an excellent introduction to his work.
Both publications are still in print and available from the author.
Widely published in magazines and anthologies both in UK and abroad, Harry Owen's poetry has also been broadcast on the BBC and independent radio stations. He is the author of Harry's Poetry Pack (Cable Educational), a poetry teaching resource based on his own work and designed for secondary school students.
Harry is an acclaimed performer of his work, regularly giving readings and running creative writing workshops with many organisations including schools, colleges, libraries and community groups. He runs the hugely popular bi-monthly Poems & Pints open-mic poetry evenings at the Beartown Tap pub in Congleton and from October 2007 to January 2008 toured as part of the acclaimed 'Bunch of Fives' performance group of Cheshire Poets Laureate.
Harry's first CD of poetry, A Window in my Diary, (in collaboration with musician Carl Brunsdon) was released in July 2006 on the re:groove label. Following this success, a second CD is planned for 2008.
