Bonnie Toney’s passion has been creating beautiful things since around age two, when she was first able to hold a pencil and paintbrush. She got interested in gems and jewelry not long after that, and sold her first pair of earrings at age 11. A lifelong learner with diverse interests, Bonnie has pursued many types of artistic expression; calligraphy, drawing, watercolor, acrylic painting, textile dyeing and surface design, sewing, quilting, polymer clay, stenciling, Zentangle, printmaking, chainmaille, leatherworking, traditional metalsmithing, enameling, and metal clay; it’s not unusual to find several of these disciplines contributing to a single piece. Bonnie ran a successful facepainting business for 20 years, in addition to teaching, making her own art, and raising a family.  

A move to North Carolina in 2013 gave Bonnie the chance to spread her wings artistically. Dedicated home studio space allowed her to pursue both metalsmithing and metal clay with vigor; classes at Sawtooth School for Visual Arts expanded her horizons greatly, and continue to do so. She has studied with Annie Grimes Williams, Carrie Story, Andrea Kennington, Sara Stine, and Kim Thore. MCAS 2018 gave her the chance to learn from Lis-el Crowley and Cindy Pope. In addition to her Camp Metal Clay certifications, Bonnie has extensive experience with base metal clays, including Five Star, Aussie, and Hadar’s. 

Bonnie teaches at Sawtooth School and several other venues in the Piedmont Triad, with an eye to expanding her horizons as opportunities present. Her work sells at several venues in the area, including the Sawtooth Gallery and Southwinds Gallery.  

“I love to make beautiful things, and I love helping others learn to make. Seeing the love of creation at work in someone else is a joy.”