Lowdon was born in Edinburgh and studied there at the Edinburgh College of Art  from 1950-54, adding a teaching diploma in painting and drawing the following year.  After doing his National Service in the Army Educational Corps, he first came to Cornwall in 1957 to be the art master at Wadebridge. Not there for long, he took up work in advertising and photography while also continuing to paint and exhibit his work. 

In 1975 he decided to return to Cornwall and work full-time on his art. From 1979-83 he made a number of painting trips abroad, travelling to Greece a number of times, and also to Portugal and France (Provence). His work has been exhibited widely, especially in the West Country.

He was a founder member of the North Cornwall Seven Group of artists, and is also an honorary member of the Cornwall Watercolour Society, formed in 2005 at Camelford.  Their annual exhibition was last held in March-April of 2011.