Olwen was born in London in 1945 and studied at Harrow College of Art and The Royal Academy Schools. She has been Vice President of the RWS and is also a member of the RE.

Olwen has had many solo exhibitions, in Ipswich, Maldon, Henley on Thames, Manchester, Guernsey and Colchester. Her work has been shown in many mixed exhibitions in venues including Moscow, The Barbican Centre, London and The Discerning Eye at the Mall Galleries.