Bristol, UK-based artist and illustrator Owen Gent creates whimsical yet melancholy works that feature characters navigating a surreal world with a folkloric aesthetic. With water as a recurring motif, the protagonists of his paintings often find solitude in desolate lagoons and pools. Being around water is often therapeutic, and Gent's characters remind us of its calming powers. His protagonists seem to submerge themselves to wash away their sorrows. Gent's work is flat and stylized yet filled with prismatic colors, and his distinct approach stands out whether he is working on personal or client work.