Established in 1923, the company grew into one of the major brands for studio lighting, producing flashes, softboxes, reflectors, lights, and other lighting accessories. Problems surfaced in early 2016, when the company unexpectedly pulled out of a major UK trade show. Then in June 2016, Bowens Lighting was acquired by the European investment firm Aurelius, along with Calumet Photographic.

AURELIUS said the decision was due to the "the far-reaching changes affecting its market, including new, considerably less expensive products by Chinese manufacturers, product innovations by competitors, and the changed buying behavior of professional photographers, who are now only willing to invest in new equipment if the investment guarantees additional income."