Bonnie Bews

Bonnie Bews was born and raised in Queensville, Ontario. There she developed her imagination and keen sense of observation. In 1990 Bews backpacked to Australia and throughout Europe. While sketching in a piazza in Germany, she was approached by artist, Rudolf Schmid. This prominent Bavarian Glass painter showed an interest in Bews’ style of work and offered her an apprenticeship at his gallery/studio, Gläserne Scheune, Viechtach, Germany. After her studies abroad she returned home to start her career as a full-time Hinterglas Painter. She began in Toronto but soon after, moved to Muskoka (1998) making a new home in one of Ontario’s major cottage country areas. On her property nestled in the forest her studio was built, ‘Hinterglas Castle’. Bews quickly became known for her exploration of the magical world of fairies hidden in the Muskoka woodlands. In 2016 she moved to Bracebridge and converted an old Livery (1890’s) into a studio/gallery. Double in size from Hinterglas Castle this gave Bews an opportunity to create larger work (Muskoka Etched in Time and Silent Hero). In 2023 she bought a home and property on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Bews looks forward to not only painting Cape Breton fairies but also discovering a whole new world of Merfolk.