Bonny Snowdon

Bonny Snowdon teaches people how to see differently in her coloured pencil art courses.

Yorkshire coloured pencil artist Bonny Snowdon has built a global community by teaching people to see, and draw, differently. Through her calm, compassionate approach, she helps others rediscover creativity, confidence, and joy. Proving that anyone can create art with a little curiosity and a handful of pencils. 

Bonny tells us how it all began

For most of my life, I wasn’t doing anything creative at all. I worked full-time in the corporate world, teaching leadership and coaching in boardrooms rather than drawing at a desk. I knew there was something missing, even though It was a good career. 

I’d always wanted to be an artist. When I was seventeen, my teachers told me I wasn't good enough. I believed them. So, like so many people do, I tucked that dream away and got on with life. 

Then one Christmas, my daughter gave me a colouring book and a small tin of pencils. She thought it would help me unwind. But that Christmas Day, I sat at the kitchen table, opened the book, and started colouring.

For the first time in decades, I felt calm. Present. Me. That tiny moment - me, my pencils, and a bit of quiet - changed everything. 

Casper a friendly special commission

A new direction 

Colouring turned into drawing, and before long, I was completely hooked. I started drawing animals - trying to capture their softness, their expression, their spirit - and I couldn’t stop. 

Within a couple of years, I’d taken a huge leap of faith. I left my corporate job and became a full-time commissioned artist. I was terrified, but I believed in myself. And in the background, I already knew that teaching would eventually be part of my future.

I just didn’t expect it to happen quite so soon… or reach quite so many people. 

Ready to attend a painting course or holiday? Find all the essential advice you’ll need to help you prepare, with our ultimate guide to painting holidays.

From the boardroom to the studio 

In 2018, people began asking if I could teach them what I knew. I’d spent years teaching leadership and coaching, so I understood how people learn. How to guide, encourage, and help them build confidence. Translating that into art felt natural. 

But my approach was different. I wasn’t just teaching people how to draw - I was helping them believe that they could. My lessons combined clear, structured guidance with compassion, patience, and a bit of Yorkshire straight-talking.

I wanted students to understand that drawing isn’t about perfection, it’s about slowing down. Seeing differently, and finding peace in the process. 

Rosa, a tutorial in Ignite

Building a global community 

I started with a few tutorials. I now have a thriving online community of artists from all over the world. In 2021, I launched my membership, Ignite, where I teach realistic animal drawing in coloured pencil. This is a space where people come not just to learn, but to connect - to rediscover confidence, purpose, and joy. 

The most powerful thing for me has been watching how creativity changes people. Students who once said “I can’t draw” now create breathtaking work. Many tell me that art has helped them through grief, illness, and self-doubt. The main lesson to learn is that creativity can be life-changing. 

Living in full colour 

Teaching has changed me, too, helping me rebuild myself after years of working in a world that didn’t fit me. Through art, I’ve come back to life - to who I truly am. 

These days, I call it living in full colour. Because that’s what creativity does - it fills your life with something bright and steady, even on the hard days. 

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned after teaching thousands of students, it’s this: you don’t need talent to start. You just need pencils, paper, and a bit of curiosity.  

Mono portrait, a tutorial in Ignite

Bonny’s five top tips for successful drawing 

1. Slow is powerful 

Coloured pencil art isn’t about rushing to the end - it’s about learning patience, one gentle layer at a time. 

2. Focus on seeing, not copying 

When you draw, look for shapes, light, and texture rather than thinking “I have to make this look perfect.” You’ll start noticing details you never saw before. 

3. Progress over perfection 

Your drawings don’t have to be flawless - they just have to show growth. Celebrate the small wins; they build real confidence. 

4. Community is everything 

Learning alongside others keeps you motivated and reminds you that every artist - no matter how skilled - started somewhere. 

5. Live in full colour 

Creativity changes more than your drawings. It changes you. When you make time for art, you start seeing the world - and yourself - in a whole new light. 

Learn more at on Bonny Snowdon's website.