Each year over 250,000 people attend the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores. For over 50 years the festival has been the preeminent event of the for the region. Also for over 50 years, the Shrimp Festival posters have become a framed tradition for business offices, homes and art locations. Hundreds of artists submit their works in the chance to have their masterpiece chosen as the official poster of the annual event.

Red Owen, a 72-year-old artist and U.S. Army veteran from Ragley, La., has been named the winner of the 51st Annual National Shrimp Festival poster contest. The announcement was made following a recent vote by the festival committee.

The committee, which consists of nearly 100 volunteers who work year-round to put on the festival, asked for submissions from artists in the spring. After the submission deadline, the committee met and voted on the poster they believed best represented the hallmarks of the festival, including the beach, shrimp, art, and music. This year, Owen’s work was chosen.

“I’ve been doing this for 40 years; I’ve entered many poster contests, and I’ve lost a lot more of them than I have won,” the longtime graphic and t-shirt artist said. Owen also added that this was the first time he had entered the poster contest for the Shrimp Festival.

Owen said his inspiration for the poster design was Jimmy Buffett. “It’s an idea I’ve had for a while. I’m proud of it and think it’s the best work I’ve done.”

Born and raised in the New Orleans area, Owen joked that he “wasted his youth” in the French Quarter, where he would often listen to Buffett who was a mere busker at the time. “I’ll never forget he would come down on the weekends in an old Ford,” Owen said.

Along with his art being the face of the festival on marketing and merchandising, Owen will also receive a cash prize of $1,000 and will get to make his first trip to the festival, where he will be available for a poster signing (location and time to be determined).

The poster will first be available for purchase at 10 a.m. Oct. 10, the festival's opening day. Pre-signed copies will be particularly sought after by collectors, as they will be individually numbered to 100 and bear Owen’s signature. Furthermore, the poster's design will be featured on the official Shrimp Festival t-shirt, and elements of the artwork will be incorporated into other official merchandise.

More information on the festival’s activities, vendors, and music lineup will be released on myshrimpfest.com as summer wraps up.