Bonnie, a native Mississippian, resides in Camarillo, California, but has lived in France, Turkey, Italy, and several locations in the United States. She received a Master’s Degree in French from the University of Mississippi, a TESL certificate from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a CELI certification from the Università di Perugia. She began her study of oil painting in 2007 at the Van Art Studio in Castelvolturno, Italy, with  Luigi Wan Vestraut and was awarded a Diploma d’Artista in 2009. In California she has studied painting and drawing with Elizabeth Arena and continues to make new discoveries under the tutelage of David Gallup. She is an artist member of Studio Channel Islands Art Center and an associate artist member of the California Art Club.

When not painting, Bonnie teaches Italian, travels as often as possible, and is an avid gardener.  She and her husband Ken have three adult sons.