In 1982, he won the BAFTA original music award for his scores for Smiley's People, The Woman in White and I Remember Nelson.
Gowers composed the music to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and its sequels, starring Jeremy Brett, whose series ran from 1984 to 1994; the soundtrack was released in 1987.
Amongst other TV series for which he composed the music are Therese Raquin (1980), Anna Karenina (1985), and Forever Green (1989).
He was also noted for his choral music, including his setting of Veni Sancte Spiritus and his commission for the consecration of Richard Harries as bishop of Oxford, Viri Galilaei (1987).
Other works include his "Toccata" for organ, commissioned by Simon Preston and joined over a decade later by a fugue, and his "Occasional Trumpet Voluntary".