Will Owen was born in Malta and educated at Rochester and at the Lambeth School of Art. He contributed to such magazines as Punch and The Graphic, but is perhaps best known for his commercial work, in particular for the creation of the Bisto Kids. They made their debut in 1919 and the image of the two urchins had a timeless appeal and is still used by the manufacturer today. There were various variations of the theme, the work in the Collection features the kids in kilts and tam o’shanters under the banner Just a wee deoch-an-doris, a chorus line from a traditional Scottish folk song.