Owen Abbott grew up in Canberra and continues to live and work in the area. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture at the University of Canberra, and a Master of Architecture at the University of Melbourne. In 2018, he established Owen David Architecture as a sole practitioner, preferring the close engagement with clients and ability to pursue the crafted Australian design aesthetic in which he is interested.

Having spent much of his younger years traversing the NSW South Coast, he understands the character of the place well and continues to exemplify a beachside lifestyle through activities such as surfing, diving, and the crafting of wooden boats.