Bonny Snowdon 00:06
Hello, I'm Bonny Snowdon, ex corporate person, a mother turned successful artist entrepreneur. It wasn't that long ago though that I lacked the confidence, vision and support network to focus on growing my dream business. Fast forward past many life curveballs, waves of self-doubt and so many lessons learned and you'll see Ignite, my thriving online colour pencil artists community, a community that changes members lives for the better and gives me freedom to live abundantly whilst doing what I love and spending quality time with my beloved family and dogs, all whilst creating my best artwork with coloured pencils, and mentoring others to do the same. But this life wasn't always how it was for me, it used to only exist in my imagination. I've created the It's a Bonny Old Life podcast to help increase people's confidence, share mine and my communities experience and hope through fascinating personal stories, champion the other amazing humans in my personal, professional and membership community, and create another channel through which I can support others to realize their dreams. If you're a passionate colour pencil artist, or an aspiring one who's looking to create their best work, and a joyful life you love, you're in the right place. Grab a cuppa and a custard cream, let's get cracking. I've known my next guest for quite some time. She and I met in the horsey world. The most amazing lady. I just love her. I think she's absolutely awesome. I'm really delighted to be chatting to Kerry Towns.
Kerry Towns 01:32
Hello.
Bonny Snowdon 01:33
Hello.
Kerry Towns 01:35
You’re all right.
Bonny Snowdon 01:36
Yeah. Oh my god, honestly. I normally get home for like close to two. So, I took the dog swimming and then I thought I'm starving. I need to go and get some lunch. So, I went to McDonald's, and was stuck in the que for ages. I snuck in before this woman and she was beeping a horn at me. They then sent me to another window. She got served before me and I was really cross. Managed to get back again started shoving this big mag down my throat and then got it stuck. I'm like, I think I'm going to be sick. I had to get a poo bag in the car there ready just in case I was sick.
Kerry Towns 02:12
Oh, dear. But you said five minutes something. I'm just making a quick cup. I'm sure I've got like five minutes before I leave.
Bonny Snowdon 02:22
I was driving and I just got to a roundabout and thought, oh, gosh, I'm going to be late. So, I just thought I just send you a quick text. So, sorry for that. So, nice to see you.
Kerry Towns 02:34
I know it seems ages since I’ve seen you and it wasn't. It was nice to catch up though.
Bonny Snowdon 02:40
Yeah, you booked over earlier this year for a book.
Kerry Towns 02:47
Yeah, that's right. I'm trying to think. Oh, no, wasn't this year, Bonny. It must have been last year because you signed it and we gave it to Abigail for Christmas.
Bonny Snowdon 03:00
Yeah, it was. It was really nice. We've known each other for quite a long time through the horsey side of stuff, and conversed on the old any riders.
Kerry Towns 03:16
Yeah, that was a great trip, wasn't it?
Bonny Snowdon 03:19
When we went to Holland?
Kerry Towns 03:21
Yeah.
Bonny Snowdon 03:22
Oh, that was awesome. Do you know some pictures came up? It must have been last year. Was it 2010?
Kerry Towns 03:34
Wasn't not a little bit earlier? I'm trying to think now. I didn't have Apollo at the time. Actually, yes, it was because I see that I stopped smoking. Because the first day that we went on the ferry was the first day I stopped smoking.
Bonny Snowdon 03:51
Well said, you didn't tell me that.
Kerry Towns 03:55
I wouldn't know why.
Bonny Snowdon 03:58
Oh, gosh. That was such a funny trip, wasn't it? It was so good.
Kerry Towns 04:02
It was hilarious. I can't remember anything about that whole show we went to but I know we went to one.
Bonny Snowdon 04:11
Yeah, it was the World Equestrian Games.
Kerry Towns 04:14
Oh, well, there you go then. I blame the vodka.
Bonny Snowdon 04:24
Oh, God, I can remember getting off the ferry and we went in-
Kerry Towns 04:29
Julie's?
Bonny Snowdon 04:30
Yeah. Julie's Land rover and the roundabouts like normal roundabouts, but they have the big like, you're just guided off into a different lane that have been raised. I was like, oh my goodness. But she was very brave. Casey, drove as well.
Kerry Towns 04:54
Casey drove, didn't she? Definitely, she was good.
Bonny Snowdon 05:01
Those are the days. I was going to say we met on the forum.
Kerry Towns 05:05
Yes, we did.
Bonny Snowdon 05:07
Yeah, that was a long time ago. It was like any riders and it was like a forum for all of these different riders to get together and chat and everything and that's where we make quite a lot of friends on there.
Kerry Towns 05:19
We did. That's got to be about what 13, 14 years ago now.
Bonny Snowdon 05:25
Yeah, because I just got Mitch. Then elf came along. When did I get elf? Oh, I can't remember. But that was funny on that forum.
Kerry Towns 05:39
It was. It was a good forum, wasn't it? Because there were no rules. That's why.
Bonny Snowdon 05:48
I've got Facebook groups and everything now and I've got definite rules and some people are like oh, we don't like rules and I'm thinking no, you really need rules.
Kerry Towns 05:58
We broke all boundaries on that. I do miss it actually. I miss the crack with the girls and stuff. Not really seen anybody for ages now when even more so with being out of the horses.
Bonny Snowdon 06:12
You've not got any horses at all now?
Kerry Towns 06:13
Yeah, we still got lucky we still got the coloured but she's away in fall but Macy's just doesn't want to compete anymore. She's working, she's driving and she's in and she is just not getting the enjoyment from it any more, Bonny. You could feel the pressure before you even started for the season on just qualifying the horse and it wasn't fun. So, Macy decided to call it quits. She wanted to do other things. But we did everything that we wanted to do. It was good while it lasted.
Bonny Snowdon 06:49
She did amazing, didn't she? She really did amazingly. She became a really fantastic rider in a very short space of time, didn't she?
Kerry Towns 06:58
She did. When you think of when she started with spangles, she was terrified of them. It cost me a fortune and little bribes. But we had a really good trainer, James. He just knew what Macy was capable of and what she would and wouldn't do. He had a way of been able to push her without her realizing that she was doing something that she said no, probably two weeks prior. But they had a good relationship, they had a laugh, it wasn't all just intense and weird. So, it was really good. He's become a really good friend of ours. We got something out of it. But she's just at that age now where she's done everything that she has wanted to do. I think part of it as well was her proving that she could get to highs without having a fantastic school, without having all the facilities. Because we didn't have anything like that. We just used to travel down at James once a week and have it in our lesson and that was it. So, she worked her socks off bless her.
Bonny Snowdon 07:56
She got trophies.
Kerry Towns 07:58
She did three times, she did it years in a row. Like I say, you could feel the pressure. So, we would start back-end January, beginning of February. I just remember one year saying James, I'm terrified in case we don't qualify because it felt as if the pressure was on us before the season started, because we've done it the year before and the year before that. I think that's when we just thought it's not fun anymore.
Bonny Snowdon 08:27
It’s a shame. It is. It would be nice if you could just go out and enjoy yourself. But actually, it never ends up like that does it? Even when you're doing anything that's competitive, it just never ends up being a nice day out.
Bonny Snowdon 08:42
I think when I first met you, you didn't drive and then you took your driving test and then straight after you took your car driving test you took your HGV.
Kerry Towns 08:42
Yeah, definitely. Because you've got your own expectation. So, you know what it is like. You trying to go out, but then you've got other people's expectations, or they see you and then they just expect, so and so has change up. That's it, they're going to win. It's not always like that at all. But we've said the same about people when we first started worn out. You’d see certain people within the class and you would just think, oh God, I haven't gotten a health chance now. If you're having an off day and you'd beat them, it was absolutely brilliant. It did wonders for Macy's confidence thought she just got a little bit too confident and cocky at times as well. So, as all kids do. We met some brilliant people all over the country that we've stayed friends with. So, it's taught us so much.
Kerry Towns 09:46
Yeah. I stopped smoking to be able to pay for my driving tests because that's when Molly was in fall before Apollo came along. I didn't want to have to keep biking it down at stupid 8 o'clock in the Morning so that was my main reason for stopping smoking. But yes, it was I had passed my car test I was like, right what's next I need to be out and about. I think I drove to Wales about five weeks after I had passed my car test as well. I was away there was just no stopping and I loved it. I loved being on the road, especially with the horses and just going from one show to the next because the social side of it is brilliant as well apart from the hard work of compete. But you meet a lot of people that have got similar interests obviously, they're at the same horse shows. It's great to mix with the same kind of people.
Bonny Snowdon 10:40
Definitely. I remember when we did a trip down to your horse alive well, we never actually made it.
Kerry Towns 10:46
Well, we never got there.
Bonny Snowdon 10:47
Oh my god, I could remember I stood up because you were all coming down from the northeast. I got a young girl from my stables. We were stood at Morrisons waiting for you to arrive and the van that was on its last legs brakes up. Then we broke down on the motorway. Oh my God, it was so funny. I still remember you. Well, I'm sure I've got photographs of you in a hedge.
Kerry Towns 11:21
Yeah. I think that might have been the boredom on the boss waiting for the breakdown and having alcohol on board. I certainly contributed to that. But I think right at McDonald's, won't we and we played the line down game on the zebra crossing and then in the hedge stuff.
Bonny Snowdon 11:43
That was going on social media, wasn't it? The line down game where everybody was just like laid flat.
Kerry Towns 11:50
Random places. I think we finally found a pub, didn't we? We ended up in a pub somehow. But it was a brilliant trip. Although we had never seen any horses that day it was absolutely fantastic.
Bonny Snowdon 12:04
It was fun. You don't do any riding at all; do you still work for BT?
Kerry Towns 12:14
Yes. So, still with BT for 25 years maybe, maybe a little bit longer now. So, it's really interesting I get to travel. Although since COVID, I've decided that I don't like traveling anymore. I’ve become used to just getting out of bed in the morning and switching my laptop on and working from home. So, the thought of having to get up and travel to the office just fills me with dread now. But it's a challenge involved so we test all the new products and services that are coming out before consumers get them which are normally 12, 18 months ahead if anything that's potentially coming out. It's good. It's kept me here and it pays the bills.
Bonny Snowdon 13:01
Yeah, very good. Can you still work from home then you don't have to go into the office?
Kerry Towns 13:06
Yeah, we still got the option at the moment it was initially they have three days minimum within the office to prove that you can do the job from home so why do I want to travel. At the end of the day, they are losing two- and a-bit hours’ worth of work each time. I just don't have to brush my hair some days.
Bonny Snowdon 13:33
Its good, isn't it? I've been known to sit doing Zoom calls and looking reasonably okay on the top and just wearing like pyjama bottoms or whatever on the bottom.
Kerry Towns 13:44
Well, you're lucky I did get dressed. I got out of my jammies
Bonny Snowdon 13:47
It’s really hard. I do my Zoom calls with my trousers rolled right up [Inaudible] I've shown my legs. I got my trousers rolled right up; my knees are bad so I do get too hot.
Kerry Towns 14:03
You come up not too long ago I think it was when you first moved there. Because there was four us who took Macy to the court.
Bonny Snowdon 14:15
Oh, yes.
Kerry Towns 14:17
How long ago would that have been?
Bonny Snowdon 14:20
Well, we moved here in 2005. So, I think she must have been about what six?
Kerry Towns 14:30
Yeah, I think she was about six or seven definitely because she had a whale of a time just driving around your backyard and on the court.
Bonny Snowdon 14:38
Well Dave used to just buy court bikes. You'd come home and got; I've bought this and I have bought that one. That's what he did. I think he just used to buy stuff to try and make himself happy to be honest. Go through car after car, after car and I'd be like, can we not settle down with this one. Of course, the field next to us they're really good. So, they let us use it for as long as there's no livestock anywhere. We can use it with the dogs, they can have a bit of a run if there's no sheep in there and plays football in there, and we have the courts.
Kerry Towns 15:15
It was a good day. That was dead warm as well. I remember it well.
Bonny Snowdon 15:22
So, things have changed. There are fields still there. But I've had a lot of work into the house. The front of the house. So, we've been in 17 years in September, and the front of the house honestly, it was just like, some junkyard, just honestly, really had like a patch of grass and all of the current grass had died. The children kept on chucking stuff onto it and all of it just looked awful. So, I have a whole lot taken up and it's all been beautifully done.
Kerry Towns 15:56
Very nice.
Bonny Snowdon 15:59
We can get all the cars on there now because the children all got a car. There is me and the three children's they've all got cars. I keep on saying we've got like a real no bad family because Dave used to have a private plate. Frankie got that when Dave died, so Frankie has got a private plate and has got snow SNL on it. Maddie then bought herself a private plate. She calls hers [Inaudible] She got snow on hers as well. I held off and held off anyway they bought me my private plate. Mine's got SNL2BOM on it. Although when you're driving behind you look in the rear-view mirror. It says knob. Then Sid just got one. So, I'm like, oh my god, we look like such a dreadful family with all of our private plates.
Kerry Towns 16:58
Oh, yeah. That'd be like, oh, look at them.
Bonny Snowdon 17:04
So, it's quite funny, really. That weird woman that lives at the end of the village. I think I'm probably called.
Kerry Towns 17:10
Probably. Have bought your book out for beginners yet? I'm still waiting?
Bonny Snowdon 17:18
No, but I've got a book course out. I've got a course that's for beginners, and I'm doing more. I've got these little challenges and everything. I did this the other day. That’s for beginners.
Kerry Towns 17:33
No way.
Bonny Snowdon 17:35
Yeah, just colouring. Honestly, if you give it a go, I think you'll be amazed. Because all it is, is just putting colour on. That's all it is.
Kerry Towns 17:45
I'm sure there's more to it than that. I think maybe we'll just stick with them.
Bonny Snowdon 17:51
What I'm trying to do is break things down. So, it's simple, and that people understand the logic behind it. Because art, I think can be perceived as something that you either can or can't do. It's this creative thing, oh, I can't possibly, I can only draw stigma. Then people go, you shouldn't make it into a process because art should be this airy, fairy fluffy, creative thing. But actually, if you break it down into a process, and you give guidance as to well, if you do this, then this happens and if you do this, then this happens. Then actually, anybody can follow a process.
Kerry Towns 18:37
Just say it.
Bonny Snowdon 18:39
Though it's true. Honestly, I have some people who join me. They're like, oh, my goodness, I can't do anything. Then literally within weeks, they're producing the most incredible work. If you don't know you don't know.
Kerry Towns 18:51
Was it colouring by numbers you started with, wasn't it? So how did you go from that to what you do now? How do you get from that start point and bringing something that looks so much alive in a drawing?
Bonny Snowdon 19:10
So, I started with the colouring books, literally just colouring in shapes and everything. I'd always like drawing when I was at school, but hadn't done any since 1987. I'd been creative because I was working on computers and I was doing design work and everything. It's not really the same, but I guess I've got that bit of creativity in me. But I think it was just the, when you just find a passion for something and you just think really love this. I just want to do more and more. Actually, I just threw myself into it. That's why I tend to do anything that I do. I just throw myself straight in and just want to be not better than anybody else. But the best that I can be.
Kerry Towns 19:57
That you can be. Make sense.
Bonny Snowdon 19:59
Well, Improving. There are artists who are far better than I am. More experienced and been doing it for longer, and I can look at their work and go, oh, my goodness, that is absolutely incredible. Just astounding work. That then pushes me to develop my work even more. I think it's a passion. I think it's having a passion for something. I think it's having that persistence as well and a bit of tenacity.
Kerry Towns 20:32
Yeah, it definitely comes across within your pictures like you do. What would you say are your more favourite? What do you like to draw more of? Is it animals or people?
Bonny Snowdon 20:44
Well, so it's definitely been animals and animals have always been the favourite. I'm drawing a horse at the minute, and I'm absolutely loving it. But I'm really, really enjoying drawing humans. I have in fact, been getting quite excited about doing more and more of the human studies and stuff like that. Whether it's because it's something a little bit new, it's not that I've got to the point where I'm like, I can't get any better with my animals, because I absolutely, I can develop them and develop them and develop my skills. But I think it could be that it's something new. I've discovered that I really liked drawing with quite vibrant colours, vibrant colours anyway, in my work, you might not see them, but I always used some vibrant colours. I've been playing around in Photoshop and playing around with photos and looking at lighting and introducing different colours and all of that stuff. I'm quite excited about all of that. I think it's just pushing yourself, isn't it? But then inevitably, what happens is then I get oh, can you do that or do a tutorial for it. Because obviously, I teach. So, I'm trying to create a few pieces for my students as well. But I found probably in the last year, I really need to take time out for myself to do my own pieces that aren't for anybody else. They're ones that I've chosen and I don't have to sit and record and talk over when I'm drawing. So, when I record on my camera and my microphone on, and I'm just I'm just chatting away as I draw. I'm telling people what to do as a draw. Of course, you can't listen to any music or audio books or watch any films or anything like that. You might have 40 hours of drawing. That's just me talking. It can get tiring.
Kerry Towns 22:39
Yeah, definitely. So, what pieces would you like to do just for yourself? Have you got any on mind?
Bonny Snowdon 22:49
I've got more people pieces, pieces that I've got that combination of interesting colours and light. That's the thing that I want to be doing. I'll look at staff even now and I'll go, that looks a little bit too hard. I'm not going to do that. Tends to be things like hands. Hands I think look quite difficult to draw. Because you've got all of the movement, you've got the structure of them, you've got all of the texture and everything like that. I've got some pieces that are all set up for me to draw and I keep on procrastinating and going on. Not sure about that. I'm sure once I get going with them, they'll be absolutely good. But that's is a big thing that procrastination side stuff. I'm a big procrastinator. Ill fuck around for ages.
Kerry Towns 23:47
Until you get it right?
Bonny Snowdon 23:49
Well, no. Just fucking around doing stuff that I shouldn't be doing. Then I'm like, oh, but I get on with this.
Kerry Towns 23:55
I think we're all guilty of that though, aren’t we?
Bonny Snowdon 23:59
I know. I was supposed to be doing some videos for adverts this morning. I don't mind doing them, but it's like a bit of a slog. So, I just started watching Netflix.
Kerry Towns 24:15
What are you watching?
Bonny Snowdon 24:20
I keep on going on about this and nobody has a clue what I'm talking about. It's called this Extraordinary Attorney Whoo. It's a South Korean series. It’s absolutely brilliant.
Kerry Towns 24:33
Is it dubbed?
Bonny Snowdon 24:33
No, it's not dubbed. It's subtitle. Their language is really beautiful. But I can’t come across as quite. It sounds like they're all having an argument all the time. It's brilliant and that the main character is autistic. But she's incredibly clever and she's got like, Photographic memory. She's just obsessed with whales and dolphins and criminal law. She has an attorney. It's just absolutely brilliant. She's the most beautiful girl. I just I just love it. I just sit there going oh my god, I just love it. It got Subtitles I have to read it so I can't then get distracted with my phone or anything. I've literally got to sit there and read it. Otherwise, I have no idea what's going on. It's a really good series.
Kerry Towns 24:34
I've never even heard of it.
Bonny Snowdon 25:09
It’s awesome. I love it. I'm supposed to be doing all of this work. Don't tell anybody. Then I start watching Netflix. Not all of the time. But I tend to work quite late on into the night so a bit of Netflix doesn't do anybody any harm, does it?
Kerry Towns 25:54
No, not at all. Why not? You've got to take time out for yourself.
Bonny Snowdon 26:00
Exactly. How are your little grandchildren?
Kerry Towns 26:05
They are fine, all five of them. Fine, but I'm not even 50 yet.
Bonny Snowdon 26:17
Who's the little one that I keep seeing pictures of her with the horses and the dogs.
Kerry Towns 26:22
Laurence's, so Messy doesn't have any children yet, thank God, but Laurence's got two. So, there's Molly and Tommy and they're into the horses. So, we got a rescue pony. I think about three years or so ago now and she was anything but kid’s pony. She's chop lot of work just to get used to people if you pat her, she nearly fell on the floor. So, they've been out and about doing their bit to compete and then they keep trying to rock me back into it but ill rather have daft. Then our Chris has got three so two are down in the worst Skegness? I think they're in Sheffield now. Obviously, he's got his little one it. All five of them. It's crazy. Christmas is expensive.
Bonny Snowdon 27:21
I think it's little Molly that I've seen. How old is she now? Because I'm sure I've seen her.
Kerry Towns 27:25
She’s five.
Bonny Snowdon 27:26
Five. Because I’ve seen her when she literally did walking.
Kerry Towns 27:31
So, she's five and Tommy will be one in October. So, absolutely flies by but she's got no fear of horses at all. She’s certainly got that passion for it as well. So, I'm sure she'll lay, we want to do a bit more. She gets older and have more knees. But that's her mom to do now, I’m out of it. Don't mind doing the odd one. But I'm not getting back into it. My money is on holidays now not pony’s and shows.
Bonny Snowdon 28:04
Oh, gosh, yes. Holidays. We're going to Cyprus in September.
Kerry Towns 28:09
Oh, very nice.
Bonny Snowdon 28:11
Yes. So, having not gone away on a family holiday since 2014. We're going on to this year.
Kerry Towns 28:22
Why not.
Bonny Snowdon 28:23
Very nice. So, we went to Corfu in July. Then Maisie and I are going out to Cyprus. But apparently, it's got really good Wi Fi. It's got Fiber. So, I'm going to be able to do some work from out there.
Kerry Towns 28:38
You're going on holiday. Not to work, you've just said you need to take time out for yourself. Right?
Bonny Snowdon 28:48
I'm writing this big course and I've got a book that's going alongside it. So, I really need some time to be able to just sit there and just have time just to do that. This would be quite nice, I think. Just sit there and have a bit of peace and quiet so it'd be quite nice.
Kerry Towns 29:07
Don't be doing all Valentine's mind.
Bonny Snowdon 29:09
Oh God, no. Isn't it funny? Because obviously, it's been five years now since Dave and I split up at the end of July 2017. I haven't had no inclination whatsoever to start dating or find some I have no inclination whatsoever. So, many people have said, have you got yourself a man yet? Bonny, what are you doing? I'm like, if it happens, it happens. But actually, I'm the happiest I've ever been. I've got my three children here, which is wonderful. But I don't have to be worrying about somebody else. If I want to go to bed at two o'clock in the morning, I can go to bed at two o’clock in the morning, without you worrying or waking somebody up. I don't have to worry. It got to the point at the end of our marriage where it wasn't very nice. I think some people are like this. So, he didn't understand about phones or social media or anything like that. He didn't do anything like that. Of course, I lived my life on social media, particularly when I was really trying to run a business. So, we'd walk in, and I'd end up having to hide my phone, because he just used to get really frustrated that I was on my phone. I think it was because he just didn't understand. Which I get, but yeah, it's funny, because you've got a new chap, haven't you?
Kerry Towns 30:44
Yeah. So, me and David worked together for 22 years. It just was two adults just living in a house, Bonny, there was no relationship. We didn't do anything. We didn't go anywhere, partly down his way. I just involve myself in the horses longer and more. Just literally thought this is not for me, it's not teaching my kids how to be in a happy and healthy relationship. It was the hardest decision to do that but best decision I've ever made. We're both unhappy. We just both didn't really say anything but I met Chris and honestly happiest I've ever been. So, it's really nice to share things with somebody when last 20 odd years I've just done things alone. But we fall on all that. We have a laugh like to school kids as well. It's a bit like who’s the child, sometimes. Just stupid jokes and fights but it's brilliant. I absolutely love this relationship. It's nice just to be open and honest. If office is pissing me off, I can tell him. He doesn't necessarily take offense and vice versa. But it is. It's really nice and good. Like I say, I just swapped the horses now for holidays. So, it's all coming together, shall we say?
Bonny Snowdon 32:23
That's awesome. Have you been away already? Or are you going away?
Kerry Towns 32:26
Yeah, so we were in Mexico in February. Then we were in Spain in August. He's taking me to New York in December. Then next year, definitely Thailand has been on the list for so long. But because of their entry requirements, it was too much which is why we did Mexico this year. So, hopefully do Thailand. But if not, we're looking at the far east and we've both got a destination list as long as we're wrong. It just keeps getting added to. As long as I can get away two or three holidays a year it would be amazing.
Bonny Snowdon 33:07
Oh gosh, that sounds nice. Because you like the heat as well, don't you?
Kerry Towns 33:10
Yes, I love the heat. I shouldn't but I do.
Bonny Snowdon 33:19
I like the holidays but my ideal holiday would be to go somewhere really cold.
Kerry Towns 33:29
I don't understand why you would spend 1000s on going somewhere that's really cold. I feel like I was robbing myself. I feel cheated.
Bonny Snowdon 33:43
I must admit the swimming when we went away to Corfu, the pool was just lovely. Having a private pool where he can just do whatever you want to do, we have a really lovely view and everything. So, I just spent quite a lot of time in the pool. I really enjoyed it.
Kerry Towns 34:01
Did it have a swim up bar?
Bonny Snowdon 34:04
No, it didn't.
Kerry Towns 34:07
That’s where you went wrong.
Bonny Snowdon 34:12
Maybe next time, I'll go to a hotel that's got a swim up bar.
Kerry Towns 34:15
Definitely. Amazing. We've made good use of the one in Mexico. It was very good.
Bonny Snowdon 34:31
I don't know. That's hilarious.
Kerry Towns 34:35
They’re very good. I can well recommend them Bonny, definitely. So, what's next for you then?
Bonny Snowdon 34:43
What’s next for me? So, I'm doing some little external teaching things. I'm doing some sessions for groups in in America, which is quite exciting. The biggest thing for me is this course which I've been talking about and creating a structure for the last five months, because it's quite an in-depth course. Basically, I've been through a huge amount of change over the last five, six years. Everything's culminated with me being able to create the business that I'm in now and succeeding and turning over considerable amount of money. I always find it really awkward talking about the success of my business and all of that kind of stuff. I don't know why because actually, I think if more people talked about art businesses is making a success and you having been able to make a really good living from it, I think people need to hear that. Rather than, I'm struggling, I can't find anything, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So, everything that I've been doing over the last six years, I've had a lot of help. I have coaching every other week. I've put myself through different courses to develop myself, so to develop me, to develop what's going on in my head, all of that mindset stuff. I want to put a course together that encapsulates everything that I've been through so that people can see that, actually, when it comes to being successful in business, the main thing to work on is your head.
Kerry Towns 36:34
Right. Did you ever think at any point, I can't be bothered with this, I'm just giving up?
Bonny Snowdon 36:40
No, never. I jumped in at the deep end, when I first started as a full-time artist in 2017 and literally quit my job.
Kerry Towns 36:54
That's scary, though. When you just quit your job.
Bonny Snowdon 36:59
Yeah, I guess it was scary. At the time, I was married. So, we had two incomes coming in. I'd said to him, look, I'd like to do this, this is what I really want to do. Can we can we do this? So, we did. I always had in the back of my mind; it's going to work out. But if it doesn't, I can get another job. I’ll get another job. I've got skills, I can get the job, it's not going to be a problem. I've always had that attitude of, it'll be fine. It'll work out. Whatever happens, it'll just work out. Then of course, he left after six months of me being self-employed. That was really scary, actually. Because I was left in the house. There was a point where he was wanting me to buy him out. Because I didn't have any money to be able to buy him out. It was very tight. Just being that obviously, he was very generous. He gave money for the children and everything like that. It was a very amicable split. We didn't have a major fallout or anything. But it was the worry side of things more than anything. I'm going to have to sell the house so that he can have his half of it. Which was really scary. Because I have dogs, I had the children. I was thinking where am I going to go? I'm running a business here. So, that side of stuff is really scary, that unknown path. But actually, it's the same with anything, isn't it? When you have that upheaval, it's that very small period of time where it's like, I don't know what's going to happen. That period of time can feel like an absolute eternity. But actually, in all honesty-
Kerry Towns 38:50
It’s just the thing, doesn’t it? It works itself out somehow.
Bonny Snowdon 38:54
It does, I ended up taking the house on my own, so I didn't have to sell it, which I'm eternally grateful for. Because then he got remarried. I won't go into things but that was pretty great. It was fine. But he didn't tell anybody when he was getting married.
Kerry Towns 39:22
I remember you saying.
Bonny Snowdon 39:23
I found out on Facebook. He didn't even use Facebook but she did.
Kerry Towns 39:31
You find everything out on Facebook.
Bonny Snowdon 39:33
We haven’t even talked about a divorce and he was there getting married.
Kerry Towns 39:37
Bloody hell.
Bonny Snowdon 39:42
Actually, it was definitely the right thing to do. Obviously, he died in 2020 which was just so sad. It makes you angry and it makes you ask questions and all of this kind of stuff. I don't think you ever come to terms with stuff like that. We're all fine. But I don't think you ever do. I'm glad I didn't know because people thought how on earth could he be thinking of doing what he did? I was like, well, I'm really glad that I can't even contemplate how he was feeling. Because that will put me in a similar situation. Very sad. But I've got a brilliant little family and a brilliant extended family. My children are absolutely awesome. They're just brilliant. They can be complete toads at time. But generally, they're awesome.
Kerry Towns 40:46
Brilliant. You've got the support of them all. That really helps.
Bonny Snowdon 40:55
I like doing what I do. I like the business side of stuff. I like the art side of stuff. For me, it's a really good mix, because I'm interested in both sides. The business side of things. Yes, it's hard work. You have to learn new things but it's something that I wanted. So, I do it. It's not like well, I haven't got a clue about doing that or anything. I just want to draw. I do want to draw on the time. So, it's good. It's really good.
Kerry Towns 41:30
How did you book do?
Bonny Snowdon 41:33
It was really good. What tends to happen when you do like a pre-sale on stuff, they tend to hit the best seller things. Which is great. I think all books tend to do that, to be honest. To be to me. It did really well. It's still selling, the digital, another reprint. So, publishing a book, in the middle of lockdown is an American publisher. They have it printed; I think in Singapore. So, I think there were definitely some quality issues, because the first print that came out was a little bit dark, which was really disappointing. The problem was that because it was my book. But it wasn't my book, it was a publisher who had asked me to create the book. I didn't have any say in any of the quality or anything like that. I didn't get a printed copy before it was all printed. So, I didn't get to see any of it really. To get a book out in lockdown it's pretty good anyway, but when they reprinted it, the quality was really good. It was a really lovely thing to do. A really nice thing to do. Actually, I love doing it. But it also taught me what I would do differently if I was to create my own book and that kind of a style. The book I'm writing at the minute isn't it's nothing like that. But it gives you a bit of an idea as to how you would do things differently.
Kerry Towns 43:01
Yeah, we had a look through it. I was just like, no way I could do that. Definitely not. Me and my stick men were staying together.
Bonny Snowdon 43:19
How long are you going to be at BT then are you going to retire?
Kerry Towns 43:22
Do you know what I do enjoy my job because obviously it changes all the time? There's no one project the same. So, you work with different people, it's different challenges. You have a thought you loss the many crazy moments. It's great. I love my job because it gives me the freedom to do other things that I need to do. But it works for me, Bonny. I have good relationships with everybody that I need to and like I said I don't particularly enjoy the traveling side anymore. Which is strange, because at one time, I wouldn't mind on the way on two or three times a week, et cetera. But now I just start off it's because I'm quite content or I've just got comfortable or what? Everything can be general but teams and video conferencing and things like that out on its own. But who knows? Never know what's around the corner, but I certainly have no plans to do anything different.
Kerry Towns 43:26
It means you can stay at home and do all the cleaning.
Kerry Towns 44:37
Yes, I still get all scared and bored.
Bonny Snowdon 44:49
When you were here before I was thinking you'd be looking at the dust on everything.
Kerry Towns 44:54
Honestly, I wasn't. But Chris comes in from Gulf on a Saturday coughing because of the strong smell of bleach and stuff. I'm like, well, that's a lovely smell and he's like, it's not when it gets up your nose. I've still got that addiction by Robbie Williams addiction.
Bonny Snowdon 45:18
Oh, Robbie Williams? Yes.
Kerry Towns 45:21
So, I have to see him in October, again, I've lost count of how many times now. But except to grow old with him. So, that's what I'm doing.
Bonny Snowdon 45:41
I could chat to you all afternoon. It's been so nice to catch up.
Kerry Towns 45:45
It has been lovely.
Bonny Snowdon 45:47
Really nice to catch up and have a bit of a laugh and everything after my mastermind McDonald's episode.
Kerry Towns 45:54
Next, you didn't talk.
Bonny Snowdon 45:56
But I'd to get off the car and go get the dog and I'm like [Inaudible]. So, greedy.
Kerry Towns 46:10
We'll have to do it again and if I'm down in that area, I'll give you a shout. We'll pop in again.
Bonny Snowdon 46:14
Yeah, definitely pop in. You will see my new wallpaper. It's really nice.
Kerry Towns 46:20
Have you got the back end on?
Bonny Snowdon 46:23
No. It was supposed to start in August, and they pushed it back. It's now starting the beginning of September. So, in the next couple of weeks. So, that's good. Then I'm having a little recording studio.
Kerry Towns 46:47
Let us know when it's done and well come and help you in the recording studio. I don't know what you might record. I'm sure we can then can bring a few bottles.
Bonny Snowdon 46:59
It will be lovely to see you. Thank you so much for coming on and having a chat. So, nice to chat to you.
Kerry Towns 47:09
It was, and I wasn't sure exactly what it was. I've never done this before. So, it was a bit nerve wracking at first.
Bonny Snowdon 47:15
It was just chatting.
Kerry Towns 47:16
It is. At first, I was like, what were we meant to do? What we’re going to talk about, but no, it's great to see you Bonny, and we're very proud of you as well.
Kerry Towns 47:28
Oh, bless you.
Kerry Towns 47:28
I know we keep saying it. But we are extremely proud of you. You've come such a long way and your drawings are fantastic. Every time we keep thinking we've seen the best form and we have favourite to do something else, there's another one, very talented.
Bonny Snowdon 47:47
Oh thank you so much. When you pass again do pop in or we'll have to get together it'd be really nice to see you again.
Kerry Towns 47:55
We will do. But you take care Bonny, and have a fabulous holiday.
Bonny Snowdon 48:02
You as well.
Kerry Towns 48:03
I will do, no problem. I'll speak to you soon. Take care. Bye.
Bonny Snowdon 48:08
Bye. I really hope you enjoyed listening to this episode of my It's a Bonny Old Life podcast. If you did, I'd be so grateful to you for emailing me or texting a link to the show, or sharing it on social media with those who might like it too. My mission with this podcast is all about sharing mine and my communities experience and hope by telling your fascinating personal stories, championing the other amazing humans in my personal, professional and membership community, and to create another channel through which I can support you to realize your coloured pencil and life dreams. If you haven't done so yet. Please help me on my mission to spread positivity and joy throughout the coloured pencil world by following me on my socials at Bonny Snowdon Academy, or by getting on my list at bonnysnowdonacademy.com, and remember, I truly believe if I can live the life of my dreams doing what I love, then you can too. We just need to keep championing and supporting each other along the way in order to make it happen. Till next time.
