It's A Bonny Old Life

In this week’s episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by Fine Art Photographer and educator, Kristine Richer.   Kristine shares her journey from studying at NSCAD University, where she obtained two undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Major in Photography and a Bachelor of Design with a Major in Interdisciplinary Design, to where she is now, a successful business owner teaching thousands of students how to capture incredible images of the Milky Way.    She talks about how she considers herself to be “a recovering perfectionist” as she is coming to the realisation that not every image she creates has to be absolutely perfect, and that she doesn’t need to spend a large number of hours editing every one.   Bonny and Kristine also discuss the amazingly supportive and safe communities they have built in their businesses, and Kristine delves into her past experiences with negativity towards her work and her techniques to not let it affect her.   To find out more about Kristine Richer, you can find her on her Instagram here, on her Facebook here, and on her Website here.

In this week’s episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by Leadership Coach Jimmy Burroughes.  He talks about his amazing life and the different careers he has had, starting out as an Army Officer in the British Military, then moving into the corporate world in New Zealand, before travelling through Latin America, while building his coaching and consulting organisation, and now settling down in Mexico.  Bonny and Jimmy talk about how they manage their work-life balance and Jimmy discusses how scuba diving allows him to slow down and observe the world, due to the breath control and beauty of the surroundings. He mentions his book, "Beat Burnout, How to Build a High-Performance Culture", the concept as well as the process of making it, and compares his experience of writing the book with Bonny’s experiences with her own book.  To find out more about Jimmy Burroughes, you can find him on his Instagram here, on his Facebook here, on his LinkedIn here, and on his Website here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny looks back on the month of January and all that has happened. Bonny talks about some of the exciting events from the month with the Academy welcoming around 800 new Ignite Members, the opportunity to speak on one of James Wedmore’s Business by Design Live Sessions, and investing further in herself and business by taking on James Wedmore’s Next Level Business Program. She also discusses her meeting with Emma, who works for the Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS), a charity close to Bonny’s heart, where they discussed some ideas for how she could help them further than simply donating. Bonny also mentions some exciting new plans and ideas for the upcoming year with the first one being the start of the new Virtual Exhibition, which will contain some amazing artwork from her Ignite Members, which will be available to view on the 1st February. To stay up to date with Bonny you can find her on Facebook here, Instagram here, Pinterest here, TikTok here, and for top tips, her newsletter here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by Life Coach and NLP Practitioner, Hannah Tahry. Hannah talks about her journey and how it has led her to become a life coach with her own business helping women to connect to their individuality. She talks of her past experiences and how she has overcome her trauma and no longer allows it to define her.  She mentions her experiences with therapists and the positive, and also negative, sides of being labelled with a disorder such as depression or bipolar. She talks about how she realised these labels didn’t feel right for her but, through these experiences, she then found coaching, which has allowed her to truly claim ownership of her story.  Bonny and Hannah discuss the importance of putting yourself first and how you don’t need to feel selfish or guilty for choosing to look after yourself. They talk about the effect your language choices can have on your attitude and how little changes to your routine and to how you word things can massively impact your positivity and ability to maintain a good attitude, even when something isn’t going as planned. To find out more about Hannah Tahry, you can find her on her Instagram here, on her Facebook here, and on her Website here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny shares her Live Q&A Event that took place in December. Bonny shares her three top tips to help you bring your coloured pencil dreams to reality and her secrets to making progress with your artwork. From how to set realistic and useful goals, to the importance of setting aside time and creating a positive mindset.  She also answers many questions ranging from different types of paper, struggles with using putty erasers, determining the size of your piece, to what her personal set up is to prevent her from back aching while drawing. She also provides some more tips for layering and blending, on how to stay focused, and manifesting positivity and growth. To keep up to speed with Bonny Snowdon, make sure you’re following her on Facebook here, Instagram here, Pinterest here and TikTok here. If you haven’t already, sign up to her weekly newsletter here for regular coloured pencil tips and inspiration, and you can join the Academy waitlist before the next launch here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny talks about limiting beliefs. Bonny discusses limiting beliefs, how they are the destroyer of confidence and how they have the ability to stop us from doing the things we want to do. She talks about how they can confine us to our comfort zone and highlights that it is only when we step out of that zone that we can do great things. She also mentions that there are many reasons for having limiting beliefs including the fear of failure, the fear of success, and the fear of rejection.  Bonny talks about the beliefs that limit her, where they have come from and her experiences trying to overcome them. She then provides some helpful ideas and exercises to help you uncover and defeat any beliefs that may be stopping you from reaching your full potential. To keep up to speed with Bonny Snowdon, make sure you’re following her on Facebook here, Instagram here, Pinterest here and TikTok here. If you haven’t already, sign up to her weekly newsletter here for regular coloured pencil tips and inspiration, and you can join the Academy waitlist before the next launch here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny looks back on the year of 2022. Bonny reflects on the year and all that has happened, including the Academy celebrating its 1st birthday, the welcoming of new team members, the introduction of the Podcast and much more. She discusses some of the announcements that have been made and her exciting plans for 2023, including the start of a new online exhibition for her Academy members. She talks about her own self-development, achievements and the wonderful things ordinary people can do, and encourages everyone to make 2023 an amazing year.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by friend, artist and Academy member, Penny Rock. Penny discusses her life and the 40 times she has relocated, and explains why, no matter where she is living, art has always had a place there. She expresses her love of and dream to live by the sea and the freeing feeling it gives her.  Penny and Bonny talk about understanding your mindset and the importance of realising that if you don’t want to do something then you need to understand why, and how that reason may not always be the ‘excuse’ you’re telling yourself. They also discuss the differences in the way they plan and the difficulties in being able to stick to that plan if it’s something they don’t necessarily want to do. They chat about money, their relationship with finances throughout their lives, and their mindset around taking responsibility for themselves and feeling independent. Penny talks of her realisation that trying to make money from her art was not the path for her, due to the pressure it put on her art. To find out more about Penny Rock, you can find her on her Instagram here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by Coloured Pencil and Digital Artist, Rebekah Marshall. Rebekah discusses her life as a full-time artist creating predominantly digital artwork and related products, which she sells in her online store as well as selling wholesale to shops. She talks about how a lot of her time is spent packing orders and her goal is to shift her business back towards commissions and scaling back the product side, mentioning the learning curves of setting up and running a business and the logistics behind selling her products. Bonny and Rebekah share details of their childhoods and discuss their wonderful memories from time spent growing up around horses. They talk about their lovely experiences of looking after and being around horses and the challenges of owning horses. Rebekah also shares her thoughts on the similarities of riding and drawing and their positive effects on your mental health. She shares her love for her work and expresses how lucky she is to be able to do a job that she enjoys while still finding time to be there for her children. Rebekah also gives an insight into her journey as an artist, and explains how she moved to be a full-time artist 7 years ago and is now running the successful art business she dreamed of. To find out more about Rebekah Marshall, you can find her on her Instagram here, and on her website here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by coloured pencil artist and Academy Member, Costas Kalamiotakis. Costas discusses his life in Crete as an olive tree farmer and owner of a shop selling books, art supplies and stationery. He also talks of the beauty of the country and how different each region is. He shares an insight into his childhood and time spent growing up in a farming environment, as well as his ‘escape’ from Crete to live and study at college in Athens. He explains his struggles growing up with ADHD, a diagnosis he did not receive until college, and how art became a way to hide and shut out the rest of the world. After having rediscovered art and finding his love for coloured pencils, Costas talks of his appreciation and love for the Academy and the confidence he has gained since joining. He discusses how his goals since joining the Bonny Snowdon Academy have changed and how we can all continually be learning in everything in life.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by coloured pencil artist and oil painter, David Sandell. David discusses his past job as a freelance illustrator and how he enjoys having more creative control and freedom in his artwork as a part-time artist, which he does alongside running a design agency. He talks about how he uses a restricted colour palette to simplify the process, and the fact it isn’t always necessary or possible to achieve the perfect colour. He explains the importance of bringing in other complimentary colours to bring out the values in the composition. Both Bonny and David discuss the need for an understanding of how to draw edges, and how many new artists feel they have to outline their subject. They speak about how the use of lost edges is important in ensuring your picture doesn’t look like a cut-out and how using them can really bring a picture to life. David shares his opinions on what makes your artwork original and how the whole point of making your own artwork is not to copy another artists’ style but to use your own uniqueness, as well as, how the concept of striving for the perfect piece of art won’t be useful in helping you to make the next one even better. To find out more about David Sandell, you can find him on his website here, and on Instagram here.

In this week’s episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny talks about the importance of setting boundaries. She explains why setting boundaries is a good way to protect yourself from the outside world, and why you shouldn’t allow people to take advantage of you. She also shares an insight into her own personal struggles with creating boundaries, goes into why you should always remember what you see on the surface isn’t always an accurate representation of an individual, and why putting other people first isn’t always healthy. She talks about how boundaries come in many forms and how they represent the way we want to live and be treated by others. She also mentions why you should trust your gut feelings and not be afraid to say no, as well as sharing how setting boundaries has improved her life. To keep up to speed with Bonny Snowdon, make sure you’re following her on Facebook here, Instagram here, Pinterest here and TikTok here. If you haven’t already, sign up to her weekly newsletter here for regular coloured pencil tips and inspiration, and you can join the Academy waitlist before the next launch here.

In this week’s episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny talks about the importance of finding time to do the things that are important to you. Bonny talks about the book she’s planning on writing and explains how, at first, she convinced herself that she didn’t have the time to write it, before realising that she was simply too scared to put pen to paper. She talks about how it’s up to each and every one of us to decide how we use the time in a day, as well as explains why she feels the phrase “I don’t have time” is nothing more than an excuse. She also explains why it’s important to be honest when you don’t want to do something instead of simply putting it off, why we should prioritise creativity and not give into the fear of failure, as well as discussing why we should make time for ourselves, so we can relax, refresh and get into the right mindset for doing what’s important to us. To keep up to speed with Bonny Snowdon, make sure you’re following her on Facebook here, Instagram here, Pinterest here and TikTok here. If you haven’t already, sign up to her weekly newsletter here for regular coloured pencil tips and inspiration, and you can join the Academy waitlist before the next launch here.

In this week's episode of It's A Bonny Old Life, Bonny looks back over another busy month in her coloured pencil life.  She gives us a look into her latest Coloured Pencil Workshop, where she taught a group of artists how to draw a realistic and dramatic human eye in coloured pencil. She talks about her latest tutorial, the Jolly Robin, and celebrates her book, Realistic Animals in Coloured Pencil, as it turns one. She also shares a behind the scenes view of her life and business, detailing the award she recently won, the new assistant she's welcoming into her business, and the newest addition to her family, Dora the Cockapoo.  To keep up with Bonny's crazy coloured pencil life, make sure you’re following her on Facebook here, Instagram here, Pinterest here and TikTok here. If you haven’t already, sign up to her weekly newsletter here for regular coloured pencil tips and inspiration, and you can join the Academy waitlist before the next launch here.

It's a slightly chaotic episode of It's A Bonny Old Life this week after Bonny's day was upended by a kind gift that resulted in a trip to the vets with three out of four of her dogs!  In the episode, Bonny explains how a missed parcel led to a chain of events that dramatically disrupted her day. She fills us in on all the details, including the good, the bad and the very ugly, then goes on to explain her reaction to the unexpected chaos. She reflects on how, through the self-development she has done over the past few years, her response was very different to what it would have been years ago, and she considers how such a strange situation has highlighted her personal growth and actually made her feel better and not worse about her day!  To keep up with Bonny's crazy coloured pencil life, make sure you’re following her on Facebook here, Instagram here, Pinterest here and TikTok here. If you haven’t already, sign up to her weekly newsletter here for regular coloured pencil tips and inspiration, and you can join the Academy waitlist before the next launch here.  

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by fellow artist and teacher, Helen Carter. Helen talks about her artwork and explains how she finally took on teaching other people to draw after receiving encouragement from Bonny, as well as sharing details of running her first online workshop and its success. Bonny and Helen discuss the joy that teaching brings them, talking about how rewarding it is to see someone grow not only as an artist but in confidence too. They also discuss their love for coloured pencils, and Helen explains why she likes to try lots of different mediums, while Bonny explains why she feels loyal to coloured pencils and decides to stick predominantly with that medium. Helen talks about a temporary loss of faith surrounding her artwork that came due to a lack of direction, and she explains the decisions she made when navigating that loss. She also shares why she decided to stop taking on commissioned work, as well as giving an insight into her life as a carer for her husband. They also discuss Patreon, self-development, their shared love of animals, and their favourite materials. To find out more about Helen Carter, you can visit her website here, find her on Facebook here, and follow her on Instagram here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny sits down with astrologer, speaker and writer, Ysanne Lewis. Ysanne talks about how she got into the world of astrology, her work in colour theory and how she links astrology and colour, and she gives an insight into how star signs, moon signs and horoscopes can affect you in your everyday life.  Bonny talks about her recent reading with Ysanne and reflects on recent changes in her business that just so happened to coincide with a retrograde period of time. Ysanne shares her thoughts on the importance of finding time to pause in all aspects of life, working with conflict and the reasons why you should always think before you speak. They also discuss the ways in which your star sign can impact your relationship with other people, and how astrology can help you find the right time for certain important events in life.  To find out more about Ysanne Lewis, you can find her website here, and follow her on Facebook here and Instagram here. 

In this special episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny sits down to share her thoughts on belief and faith.  Bonny talks about the importance of believing in yourself and carefully choosing what you pay attention to and believe in. She talks about why she chooses to always believe that the best will happen and that, no matter what the situation, everything will be all right in the end.  She shares the reasons why she believes it’s so important to accept both yourself and other people, as well as understand that we’re all constantly growing, developing and learning. She also shares the things she does in order to lead a happier and more fulfilling life, and she gives her tips on how other people can do the same.  To keep up to speed with Bonny’s coloured pencil life, make sure you’re following her on Facebook here, Instagram here, Pinterest here and TikTok here. If you haven’t already, sign up to her weekly newsletter here for regular coloured pencil tips and inspiration, and you can join the Academy waitlist before the next launch here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny sits down to share the details of what she’s got up to during a very busy September. She shares an update on the recent launch of the Academy and celebrates welcoming over 600 new coloured pencil artists into the membership. She talks about her latest projects, which include writing a book, a new Christmas tutorial which will be available in November, her latest free coloured pencil challenge, and her most recent tutorial. Bonny also talks us through her recent getaway to Cyrpus with her daughter, sharing details of what she got up to on a well-deserved week off. She also shares details of her upcoming tutorials, commissioned pieces, home renovations and the latest update from her chaotic four-legged friend, Vinnie. To keep up to speed with Bonny’s coloured pencil life, make sure you’re following her on Facebook here, Instagram here, Pinterest here and TikTok here. If you haven’t already, sign up to her weekly newsletter here for regular coloured pencil tips and inspiration, and you can join the Academy waitlist before the next launch here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by Kerry Towns, who she bonded with many years ago thanks to their shared love of horses.  Bonny and Kerry look back on their lives in the equestrian world and discuss how they met, the horse shows they attended together and the horses they used to own.  Kerry questions Bonny about her life as an artist, and Bonny shares details of how she went from drawing in adult colouring books to drawing realistic animals. Bonny explains why she believes that anyone can draw with the right guidance, and she shares details of the resources she has that can help beginners learn.  They also discuss family life, Bonny’s book, what Bonny’s next big project is, and much more. 

In this episode, Bonny sits down with pet portrait artist, Maddy Garcia-Larsson. Bonny and Maddy discuss their shared passion for drawing with coloured pencils and talk about the joy it has brought into their lives. Maddy shares details of the pet portraits she has previously worked on and explains why her drawings primarily focus on greyhounds. She also explains why she has chosen to support charities that care for Galgos (Spanish Greyhounds). Maddy gives us a look into her working life outside of the artwork and explains how it differs from her work as a commissioned artist. She talks about the joy that life as a commission artist has brought her, including heartwarming stories of thanks and appreciation from her happy customers. Maddy also shares her plans for the future, going into detail about why she would love to find more time to draw professionally, as well as the aspects that she feels are holding her back. Bonny and Maddy talk about the difficult circumstances that allowed them to kickstart their artistic journey, reflecting back on how these difficult periods of their life opened the door to something that brought them joy. They also discuss their struggles with confidence over the years, the mindfulness that drawing brings, the behind-the-scenes aspects of creating art tutorials, and they talk about how life in lockdown impacted their lives and Maddy shares her experience with long Covid. To find out more about Maddy Garcia-Larsson, you can find her website here, follow her on Facebook here and Instagram here.

In another special episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny sits down to respond to questions and queries from her followers, fans, and those in her membership community.  Bonny answers questions on many different topics, including finding the best materials for drawing in coloured pencil, how to stay organised as a full-time artist, planning and procrastination, starting an art business, marketing, pricing and more. She also shares details of her exciting future plans, giving you an idea of what you can expect from her in the coming year.  If you’d like to stay up-to-date with Bonny Snowdon, make sure you’re following her on Facebook here, Instagram here, and sign up to her weekly newsletter here for regular coloured pencil tips.

In this special episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny sits down to share the details of her coloured pencil journey. She talks about how her business began in 2016 and what it looked like in the early days. She discusses her commissions, her time spent teaching other artists how to draw and the planning that went into introducing the Bonny Snowdon Academy. Bonny talks about the importance of being organised when running a business, she mentions the types of marketing that she finds instrumental and she talks about how her business and team have grown. She also shares her thoughts on Patreon, getting into the right mindset and the law of attraction. If you’d like to stay up-to-date with Bonny Snowdon, make sure you’re following her on Facebook here, Instagram here, and sign up to her weekly newsletter here for regular coloured pencil tips.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by wildlife artist, Zoe Fitchet.  Bonny and Zoe discuss their family life and how life as a full-time artist differs from life in the corporate world. They talk about the need to delegate work in order to make time to do what they love, and Bonny gives an insight into what her business looks like now that she has a team to help her.  They talk about the thought process that goes into growing a business, discussing the many things that need to be taken into consideration, and Zoe talks about why she thinks that setting goals and taking a leap of faith are required.  They discuss projects that haven’t gone to plan and talk about why it’s important not to lose heart when something that has worked for others doesn’t work for you. They also share their thoughts on Patreon, its pros and cons and the difficulties that can come with running your own Patreon.  Zoe talks about her latest project and shares details of how she built her client base when starting out as an artist. They also discuss their goals for the future, the importance of planning carefully and being realistic, as well as making time to celebrate your wins.   To find out more about Zoe Fitchet, you can find her website here, follow her on Facebook here and Instagram here. 

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by NLP practitioner and life coach, Nina Madden.  Nina shares the story of how she became a counsellor after previously working in the art sector, and talks about how her adventurous past, tendency to be a deep thinker and struggles with depression as a teenager left her with a desire to make life better for herself and other people.  Bonny and Nina discuss Nina’s 16-day-long coaching and NLP course that Bonny recently enrolled in, and they speak about the importance of paying attention to the person speaking in a group setting and allowing everyone to have their own time to talk without interruption.  They talk about the importance of connecting with ourselves before we are able to connect with other people, as well as discussing the reasons why we need to respect other people’s individual paths in life, consider others as equal to ourselves and always remember that the different experiences that other people have had have moulded the way they look at the world.  They also share their thoughts on appreciation and why we should show appreciation for ourselves and other people more often. They talk about the importance of reflecting on difficult situations, learning from them and not allowing them to become overwhelming and upsetting. They also discuss the ways in which meditation, mindfulness and finding the quiet within can help a person in their daily life.  To find out more about Nina Madden, you can find her website here, follow her on Facebook here and Instagram here. 

In this episode, Bonny is joined by life coach and NLP master practitioner, Caroline Baber.  Bonny and Caroline discuss how they recently met in a 16-day-long workshop, and Caroline gives a look into her background and explains how she was introduced to NLP (neuro-linguistic programming).  They talk about how coaching has helped them both personally in the past, explaining the difficulties and personal blocks that it has helped them to work through. They discuss the importance of acknowledging problems in your life and talk about why you should avoid burying your emotions.  Caroline shares her thoughts on why she believes it is important that people solve and work through their issues with someone they trust, and they discuss the reasons why people should be open to trying new things, let go of control where possible and reduce worrying and anxiety by learning how to be present in daily life.  They also talk dogs and family, and Bonny shares details of how she rediscovered her love of swimming, and how it has improved her life.  To find out more about Caroline Baber, you can find her website here, and you can follow her on Facebook here and on Instagram here. 

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny sits down with horse practitioner and barefoot trimmer, Steven Leigh.  Bonny explains how she and Steven met years ago, and Steven gives us a look into his life in Northumberland, where he surrounds himself with his dogs and horses, and spends each day rehabilitating horses.  He shares the story of where his love of horses came from, as well as how he left his office job with the goal of spending more time outdoors and helping as many people and as many horses as possible. Steven goes into detail about the many aspects of his job that he loves, highlighting that there is always something to keep you interested and how you never stop learning.  He talks about how people’s opinions of shoeing or, indeed, not shoeing have changed over the years, and shares his thoughts on why putting shoes on a horse may be a temporary fix. He also mentions the reasons why he tries to educate owners on how to take better care of their horses, discussing how extra attention can prevent problems down the line.  Steven shares his admiration for Bonny’s artwork and her ability to capture a horse’s personality on paper. They discuss the importance of networking in order to prevent isolation, their dogs, the advantages and disadvantages of Zoom workshops and the importance of getting expert advice before heading to the internet for help.  To find out more about Steven, you can find his website here.

In this episode of It's A Bonny Old Life, Bonny comes to you from her studio to share details of her sometimes chaotic but always colourful life, and to fill you in on what she's been up to in a very busy month.  She fills us in on her latest venture, her Coloured Pencil Retreat, where she was joined by 13 incredible artists at the White Bear Hotel in Masham for four days of drawing, chatting, confidence sessions and relaxation. She also shares her exciting plans for future retreats.  Bonny talks about her new beginners' course, the Super Simple Coloured Pencil Course, which was released at the beginning of the month and has already started helping coloured pencil artists learn the basics and grow in confidence.  She gives us a behind the scenes look at her life away from her drawing board and fills us in on her recent family holiday in Corfu, sharing details of how she spent some well-deserved time off, as well as sharing the story of an interesting attempt at driving on the opposite side of the road.  She also talks about her recent podcast recordings, her latest drawings, her plans as she gets closer to reopening the Academy to new members and, of course, gets us up to speed with the latest antics of her furry family, Vinnie, Slipper and Nelly.  To keep up to date with Bonny from month to month and make sure you never miss a thing, you can find her on Facebook here, Instagram here, Pinterest here and TikTok here. For regular coloured pencil inspiration and top tips, sign up to her weekly newsletter here. 

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by financial expert and business warrior, Louise Baldock, who recently joined Bonny’s team to help her build structure, and put protective processes and regular risk assessments into place in her business.  In the episode, Louise explains exactly what it is she does to help businesses like Bonny’s, and she shares some interesting details of her background, explaining the path that led her to her current position.  Louise shares her admiration of Bonny’s kindness and commitment to her business, and they talk about the importance of knowing your limitations, asking for help when you need it, and having a team of people that you can rely on to do the jobs you aren’t an expert in.  Louise also talks about one of the worst-case scenarios she has come across while helping a business with its finances, and she talks about the very real threat of financial abuse and the effect it can have on both a business and the individuals involved.  She shares her tips for people who are in the early stages of starting a business, giving advice on what aspects they should be taking into consideration, and highlighting the things that people often don’t know about or forget. Bonny and Louise also talk about setting goals, Louise shares a few interesting details of her younger and wilder years, and they talk about the importance of trusting your gut. Louise also shares her plans for taking on one of Bonny’s coloured pencil tutorials, and Bonny shares her recommendation on what subjects are great for beginners.  To find out more about Louise Baldock, you can find her website here, and you can connect with her on LinkedIn here. 

In this episode, Bonny sat down with a very inspiring young artist, Jessica Liz. Jessica shares details of her background and her years of studying art at school, where she moved between several different types of art in search of what she was really passionate about. She talks about the difficulties she faced when her teacher told her she shouldn’t move forward with the realistic artwork she loved, how that lack of support impacted her, and how she navigated the difficult aspects of life at the time. She also shares encouraging words and advice for other artists who have not been given the support they deserve. Jessica talks about how she took up coloured pencils by chance in lockdown, how she felt when drawing for the first time, and the feeling of pride it brought her. She explains how her business as a pet portrait artist came about and she shares her incredible plans for the future. She also shares the exciting story of how she was commissioned for a piece that would be gifted to Hilary Clinton, the obstacles she faced when making the decision on whether or not to take on the challenge, and she goes into detail about the day she met Hilary. And, importantly, Jessica talks about her struggles with mental health, giving an incredibly insightful, heartfelt message to anyone listening who may have similar struggles. To find out more about Jessica Liz, you can visit her website here, and follow her on Facebook here and Instagram here. 

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by style expert and consultant, Sarah Gray. Sarah shares details of her journey to confidence, explaining how problems with her skin as a child left her feeling as if she didn’t want to be seen. She explains how this has helped her sympathise with the people she works with today, and how she uses her own experiences to help support others.  She talks about the reasons why she loves working with other business owners and how she helps them to combat the fear of showing up. Bonny and Sarah discuss their thoughts on the importance of women in business having the support of other women in business, and they talk about how this has helped and opened new doors for them.  Sarah talks about how she discovered she needed to find a better work-life balance, and explains the changes she has made and things she has introduced into her life to help her manage the emotions that come with helping other people work through their own struggles.  She also gives her advice on being true to yourself, and shares her tips on building body confidence and learning to love the person you see in the mirror.  To find out more about Sarah Gray, head to her website here. You can also follow her on Facebook here and Instagram here. 

In this week’s episode, Bonny sits down with money mentor and author, Denise Duffield-Thomas. In the episode, Denise shares details of how she got into her line of work, explaining how her own issues with money and an interest in the law of attraction encouraged her to help other people who were struggling with similar situations. She talks about her new book, Chill and Prosper, and mentions how it came about after the pandemic made changes to the way we live and work. Bonny and Denise discuss different types of coaching, and Denise shares her experiences with and thoughts on each of them. Denise also talks about the moments in her life that prompted her to look inward and make changes. They also discuss their money troubles over the years, giving details of the different situations they have both been in, and Denise shares her thoughts on how your family’s approach to money while you were growing up can impact your own later in life. To find out more about Denise Duffield-Thomas, visit her website here, find her on Facebook here, and on Instagram here. If you would like to buy one of her books, you can find them here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by the wildlife, pet and equine artist, Julie Burdon-Stone. In the episode, Julie talks about her lifelong desire to become an artist and explains how life originally led her down a different path. She shares details about the work she does as a senior manager at an animal charity outside, and how she fits painting into her day. Bonny and Julie discuss social media and the ways in which it has made advertising their businesses easier. They discuss how understanding themselves has helped them to communicate and speak about their businesses online, while also talking about the risks that come with social media. They share their thoughts on the importance of setting boundaries, learning how to say no and not letting people take advantage of your better nature. They also discuss Patreon, and Bonny gives an honest opinion on how she believes it can hinder artists instead of helping them. To find out more about Julie Burdon-Stone, visit her website here, find her on Facebook here, and on Instagram here. 

In this week’s episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by Hela Wozniak-Kay, the co-founder of Sister Snog, the networking community for women in business. Hela explains why she dislikes the word “networking” and gives an insight into the connections, bridges and collaborations that are built through Sister Snog. Bonny and Hela discuss discovering their talent and figuring out how to turn that talent into a business. They talk about the importance of believing in yourself and not limiting yourself by doubting your abilities. They share their thoughts on creativity in all its forms and Bonny explains where she thinks her creativity came from. Plus, they go into detail about why they believe that meeting and engaging with other, like-minded people is so important, and how it can help you in all aspects of life. To find out more about Hela, you can follow her on Instagram here. To learn more about Sister Snog, find the website here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by the award-winning pet portrait and wildlife artist, Alex Fleming, who she had the pleasure of coaching briefly in 2020. Bonny shares her admiration for Alex’s work and the unique way he puts himself across on social media. Alex explains why he posts the things he does, how he tries to avoid coming across as “salesy” and why he prefers to put his faith in “bricks and mortar”, relying on galleries and exhibitions over social media. They talk about their family life, with Alex sharing that he cares for his father part-time, which was one of the factors that initially encouraged him to leave his previous job as a postman and take up art full-time. Bonny talks about her children and how proud she is of them and how they have dealt with the difficult death of their father. They discuss the importance of caring for your family and the people that you love, as well as the strength you gain from being helped by them in return. Bonny and Alex discuss their different approaches to drawing and business, and Alex explains why he likes to avoid a rigid business model. They talk about teaching and Bonny shares details of her teaching style and explains why she decided tointroduce her own teaching platform, the Bonny Snowdon Academy. They talk about the benefit of having people around you when you spend a lot of time alone drawing and Bonny talks about her team and how they help her daily. And, of course, they talk about their artwork, the different approaches they have to draw, and the sense of fulfilment that completing a piece brings. To find out more about Alex Fleming and to view his artwork, head to his website here, follow him on Instagram here and find him on Facebook here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny sits down with the incredibly talented equine artist, Victoria Scotti.  Victoria talks about life with her family in Valencia and shares details of her time in New York while studying art therapy and completing her PhD.  Bonny shares her admiration for Victoria’s sketchbook series and Victoria goes into detail about how they began as a simple Summer project whilst on holiday in Estonia. She explains how she used the drawings to develop ideas without feeling the pressure of finishing a piece.  Victoria also talks about where her love of horses came from and explains the out-of-the-blue reason that led her to believe that becoming an equine artist was what she was meant to do. Bonny and Victoria discuss their shared belief that everything happens for a reason and share the reasons why they think other people should listen to what the universe is telling them.  Victoria shares details of the art therapy work she still does and talks about her belief that everything an artist draws is an exploration of themself and the importance of figuring out what your artwork says about you.  She explains how she approaches a new piece and how she chooses a medium based on each specific horse. She also talks about the value of doing what you love and finding time for yourself.  Bonny talks about her plans for freeing up more time for herself in the future by creating some shorter, in-depth tutorials for her students. They also talk about the challenges of drawing specific furs and colours, and they discuss their unique approaches to drawing.  Victoria also shares some things artists can take into consideration to reduce stress and frustration and get more enjoyment out of the drawings they take on.  If you’d like to find out more about Victoria Scotti, head to her website here, follow her on Instagram here and find her on Facebook here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by the fabulous oil painter, Jean Pritchard, who specialises in wildlife art and teaches other artists how to paint.  In the episode, Jean talks about how she started out as a watercolour artist, before going on to study at art college. She talks about the enjoyment she got from studying art, and how she progressed from watercolours to oil paints.  She shares details of how lockdown changed the nature of her business and how it forced her to move outside of her comfort zone and push herself to try something different. Bonny and Jean also talk about the trial-and-error approach they both took when they started teaching, and mention the hoards of equipment they went through in search of the right cameras, tripods and more!  They talk about embracing who they are and how it has helped them get more out of everyday life. They discuss the criticism they have both faced in the past and share how they deal with it now, and why they encourage others to be kind on social media.  Bonny shares her thoughts on the benefits of relinquishing control in your business and delegating work in order to continue growing. She also mentions the coaching course she has enrolled in and how she plans to incorporate it into the Academy. Plus, she hints at the big project she’s currently working on and shares details of the work going into it.  They also discuss the joy of being able to teach students from all ends of the world and the communities they have been able to build.  Listen to the podcast on this page or click the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you’d like to find out more about Jean Pritchard, head to her website here, follow her on Instagram here, find her on Facebook here, and find her on her TikTok here. 

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny sits down with the incredible wildlife photographer, Tazi Brown.  Tazi shares the story of her journey to becoming a wildlife photographer, telling us how she took up photography at a young age and found an interest in photographing flowers on a family holiday, before finding a strong passion for wildlife photography whilst on a trip to Tanzania in 2012.  She always tells us about the accident that left her with post-concussion syndrome and shares how it has affected her daily life and ability to take photos. She also talks about her inspiring approach to life after the accident, and explains how she has made changes to continue doing what she loves. Listen to the podcast on this page or click the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you’d like to find out more about Tazi Brown, head to her website here, follow her on Instagram here and find her on Facebook here. 

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by author, artist, mum, and fellow Yorkshire lass, Gem Stone. Gem talks about how her love of art and all things creative started from a young age and shares the reasons why she chose to study photography instead of turning in another direction. She talks about working as a photographer, beginning in a studio, then working for herself for over ten years, all the while thinking that she needed to get back to drawing. She talks about the fear she had after not drawing for such a long time, and how she worried that, after such a long break, she would have lost her artistic abilities. She also explains why she describes herself as a “fickle artist”, and talks about the many different mediums she loves to try her hand at. Gem shares details of how her book, The Crystal Kids, came to be and talks about the process of drawing the illustrations, creating her own font, and publishing the book. She also talks about the unexpected environmental impact that publishing a book can have, and explains the ways in which she has tried to make her book as environmentally friendly as possible. Plus, she gives us an idea of what we can expect from her in the future, including amazing plans for her YouTube channel and the next book she’s busy dreaming up! Listen to the podcast on this page or click the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you’d like to find out more about Gem Stone, head to her website here, find her Gem Stone Creates profile on Instagram here and her Yorkshire Mermaid profile here.

In this episode, Bonny is joined by the inspiring pet portrait artist, author of Art Is My Career, and new mum, Sema Martin.  Sema talks us through her lifelong love of drawing, explains why she decided to study aerospace engineering after leaving school, and how it led her onto working for Nasa for 3 exciting months. She also explains what prompted her to leave the world of engineering and branch out as a full-time pet portrait artist.  Bonny and Sema discuss the freedom that running your own business has brought them, debunk the starving artist myth, and talk business, marketing and the benefit of delegating work where you can.  Sema also shares what life is like as a working mum after welcoming her daughter into the world four months ago, how being a new mum has changed the nature of her business, and how she hopes to be a role model and inspiration to her daughter when she grows up.  Plus, Sema shares her thoughts on finding your own style as an artist, the benefit of realising there is no right or wrong way to draw, and she even shares her tips for drawing beautifully white whiskers!  Listen to the podcast on this page or click the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you'd like to find out more about Sema Martin, head to her website here, follow her on Facebook here, and find her on Instagram here.  To buy a copy of Sema's book, Art Is My Career, click here.

In this episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny is joined by an incredible member of her Academy community, photography expert, workshop leader, coach (and much more!), Ruth Hoyt. Ruth shares the story of how she found her interest in photography by chance, and how exploring that interest led her to become a full-time nature photographer and photography coach to people of all ages, who is never seen without a camera in her hands. She shares her stories of photographing birds and other animals, the unexpected surprises she’s encountered on photo shoots, and the joy that photography brings to her daily life. She also shares the four things she encourages others to look for when choosing photos to enter into competitions. The passion she has for her art form is inspiring and, no doubt, by the end of this episode, you’ll find yourself reaching for your camera and heading out to take some photos! Listen to the podcast on this page or click on the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. To find out more about Ruth Hoyt and view some of her fabulous photographs, click here to head to her website. You can also find her on Facebook here and Instagram here. 

In this episode, Bonny sits down with Ubermummies founder, Alex Smallman, and talks about the similarities between their two very different businesses. Alex shares the story of how the Ubermummies business grew from her previous career as a personal trainer, and how the business changed during lockdown and made the move from in-person workout sessions to finding a new home online. Bonny and Alex talk about their shared passion for helping and encouraging others, and how lifting people up and showing them that they can do anything they set their mind to is at the heart of both businesses. They also talk about the importance of being kind to yourself, making time to do the things that make you happy, and Alex shares her three reasons why we should all remember to love ourselves and give ourselves the time we deserve. Listen to the podcast on this page or click on the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. To find out more about Alex and Ubermummies, click here to head to her website. You can also follow her on social media. Find her on Facebook here and Instagram here. 

In this special episode of It’s A Bonny Old Life, Bonny celebrates the reopening of her online teaching platform, the Academy, with a few kind words from a handful of her members. Bonny hears from Judy, who started drawing at 71 after retiring. She talks about the fear of starting something new at a later stage in life, and tells us how she broke through barriers, improved her skills and gained confidence. Today, she takes on commissioned pieces, and Bonny has one of her drawings proudly on display in her own home! We also hear from Karen, who struggled with her confidence so much when joining Bonny’s live sessions, that she didn’t dare turn her camera on in Zoom! Bonny explains how she slowly started to feel more comfortable and at ease in the Academy, and Karen shares how proud she is of the work she’s doing now, how much her confidence has grown in her daily life, and how it’s even helped lower her stress levels and improve her health! Other members of the Academy also make an appearance, sharing their experience, their stories, and the reasons why they love being a member of Bonny’s community. Plus, Bonny explains what new members can expect from the Academy when they join, including her Coloured Pencil Foundations Course, a collection of regular live sessions and hundreds of realtime tutorials, personalised critiques and the support of an amazing community of coloured pencil artists.

In this special bonus episode, Bonny talks to David Fox-Pitt as he works with Siobhans Trust to feed refugees on the border in Ukraine. David has been there for 35 days helping those in need as they come through in their thousands. David has volunteers from all over the world helping him make food, tea and coffee for the refugees as they come through border control. It's incredibly cold, particularly at night, and the conditions are awful. David shares details of the work they are doing, the trust that has made their efforts possible, and lets us know what we can do to help. The episode has not been edited in order to show the true reality of life on the Ukraine border. To find out more about what you can do, and to donate to this incredibly important cause, head to the Siobhans Trust website here. You can find out more about David Fox-Pitt and the works he's done to support causes worldwide on his website here. Please help to raise awareness for this incredibly important cause by sharing this episode with your friends and family, and spread the word far and wide to make sure that this important topic and the people struggling are not forgotten. 

In this episode of It's a Bonny Old Life Bonny visits Ian Peacock, the Ripon-based Picture Framer extraordinaire who framed some of her very first pet portraits and has supported and advised her on her journey as a professional artist ever since. Ian shares some fascinating stories about how he came to be the chosen Framer for art by some of the greatest artists in the world (dead and alive!) think Turner, Banksy, Andy Warhol, Picasso (and, of course, our very own Bonny Snowdon!). But it could have been very different as Ian actually started out his career training to be an Engineer for the railways like generations of the men in his family before him. Engineering had been the long term plan until he fell (by accident) into working as a weekend Wedding Photographer and then by chance discovered his passion for framing and eventually took the brave decision as a young man back in 1986, to start his own North Yorkshire based picture framing business. The rest, as they say, is (art) history! Such a fun, inspiring and fascinating interview. You can listen here or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. As ever, if you enjoy this podcast please do share with others who you think may benefit from hearing it too.  With us being in his workshop, in a carpet shop there are a couple of times where there's some background noise, but don't let it put you off as he's a fascinating man :)

In this powerful interview with The Equine Artist Tony O'Connor, Bonny Snowdon speaks to the man who is one of the biggest inspirations behind her work. His passion for equine art, his professional accessibility and personal encouragement really gave her own career a boost and helped her make the best decision she ever made and go full time in her art business.Tony's love of horses stems from his childhood in Ireland's County Kerry, with seven generations of blacksmith blood flowing through his veins. Influenced by the Renaissance Masters, he takes his style of drawing from the Silverpoint pieces of Da Vinci & drawings of Michelangelo - elements of both can be seen in his drawings & portraits of horses. His work now forms part of many private & corporate collections worldwide. he's the Founder of White Tree Studio which was set up in 2002.Listen to the podcast on this page or click the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you'd like to find out more about Tony O'Connor and see some of his incredible artwork, click here to head to his website, or find him on Facebook here and Instagram here. 

In this episode of It's a Bonny Old Life, Bonny Snowdon speaks to one of her most valued mentors, Susie Pearl on the importance of finding our highest personal potential, keeping our mental health strong and living with conscious awareness. After recovering fully from an aggressive brain tumour, Susie found out about healing and what life is really all about. She is grateful for each day and lives life making every day count. She experienced leaving her body and looking down from out of her body in a real life NDE (Near Death Experience) and came back fully healed which surprised everyone – particularly the doctors. Her journey out of her body took her on a road of learning about life and death that has changed her (for the better) forever. It has given her a deep wisdom and understanding about life. This podcast explores how Bonny's work with Susie has helped her dive deep into the inner well of creativity that we all have inside and find happiness and good living to support this process. Bonny also talks to Susie about how she supports others to shift from fear into love and make life more fun and enjoyable. Listen to the podcast on this page or click the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you'd like to find out more about Susie Pearl or buy one of her books, head to her website here, follow her on Facebook here, and find her on Instagram here. 

In this uplifting episode of It's a Bonny Old Life Bonny Snowdon speaks to Lucy Hutchings Hunt, her Digital Marketing Coach & Strategist about the last year and the work they have done together on re-inventing Bonny's coloured pencil artists' community and membership, Ignite.Bonny shares how she is so excited by the revolutionary digital marketing ideas and tactics that Lucy has introduced her too as well as the new people, ideas and books. In turn Lucy shares not just some of her business experience, strength and hope but about how her hard won personal battles with a childhood eating disorder and alcohol addiction have made her stronger in all areas of her adult life. Bonny asks Lucy about her life as an ex-pat in the French Alps and about the transformational power of her regular cold water lake swimming and Lucy shares her best life and business confidence building tips.Listen to the podcast on this page or click the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you'd like to find out more about Lucy Hutchings Hunt, head to her website here, follow her on Facebook here, and find her on Instagram here. 

In this episode of It's a Bonny Old Life, Bonny has the pleasure of speaking to one of her favourite humans, Vicki Evans. Bonny and Vicki met a few years back and Bonny is so grateful to have her positive energy, endless kindness and moral support in her life. Vicki tells us about the exciting times she had living abroad in South Africa and Bahrain with her family when her children were young. As well as sharing about her adventures in teaching early years education around the world... and how 'messy play' is timelessly cross cultural and still one of her favourite things to do - even as an adult!  In this exciting, inspiring and often poignant chat, Vicki shares with Bonny about her experience of the importance of community and companionship and shared conversation for creating a happy, joyful and meaningful life. Listen to the podcast on this page or click the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

In this podcast Bonny Snowdon speaks to her sister Annabel Andrew about some of their happy shared childhood memories and the artistic foundations of their upbringing. Bonny acknowledges Annabel and her husband Charlie for the importance of their support in her journey to business success as a Coloured Pencil Artist and extends her gratitude to them for believing in her, even when she was struggling with dark times and lacking in her own confidence. Annabel speaks to Bonny about her early career as a successful singer and performer and shares her hard-won tip for bravely stepping out of one's comfort zone with confidence. (Hint: this tip involves cabbages!)Listen to the podcast on this page or click on the links to subscribe and/or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.