In 1991, Owain won the chair at the National Eisteddfod of Wales at Mold for a poem titled "Awdl Foliant Merch ein Hamserau" (The Girl of Our Times).[1] His poems have been read on television by actor Rhys Ifans, but the poet himself has declined to be interviewed in the mass media.[2] In December 1996 he published a volume of poems on the web under the title "Rebel ar y We" (Rebel on the Web), described by the Academi as the first Welsh language book to have been published on the web[3] — since renamed as "Rhedeg ar Wydyr" (Running on Glass).[4]
Owain has written for television and radio, and has also written and published over 100 songs, sometimes collaborating with his friend, singer and songwriter Rhys Meirion.[5]Bryn Terfel has performed "Brenin y Ser" (The King of The Stars), which was written by Owain and the composer Robat Arwyn, as was "Pedair Oed", recorded by Côr Rhuthun and Rhys Meirion in 2004.[6]
Other work
Owain was a head teacher,[7] who has worked at Ysgol Glan Morfa, Abergele and Ysgol Llangwm. In the early 1990s he served as mayor of Ruthin.[8]