Meet Bonnie Brown: The creative force behind the 2024 Wellington Advent Calendar

Bonnie Brown moved to Wellington at 18 years old to study architecture. Shortly after graduating, she was craving some variety and creativity. She picked up a pencil to draw for fun again.

Seven years on, Bonnie is now Studio Bon. She has collaborated with clients worldwide, including a luxury department store in Singapore. But Wellington’s creative community holds a special place in her heart. “I’ve been lucky enough to work with some wonderful Wellington businesses like L’affare, Yvette Edwards and Rembrandt, and the best thing is always the trust they place in me,” says Bonnie.

Bonnie’s artistic process uses different mediums and methods. “I create a lot of work digitally, on my iPad, but you can’t beat drawing or painting on real paper. When working with clients there’s different rounds of feedback or more collaborative stages which I love. If there’s one thing architecture school taught me it’s how not to take feedback or changes personally.”

Wellington has a lasting influence on Bonnie’s work, from being outdoors to the local art scene. “I love L’affare, for their mochas in particular, and parking up for an hour or so to get some drawing done. I can spend hours wandering through City Gallery, and while it’s currently closed, I’ve been heading along to their pop-up exhibitions across Te Whanganui a Tara which have been incredible.”

“Being outside definitely gets me motivated to create new work. Recently I’ve been painting a ridiculous amount of fruit and vegetables so I’m clearly inspired by the Sunday market.”

Beyond the markets, Bonnie loves the waterfront, walking or running along it most days. “The vibes of Oriental Bay on a good day are unmatched, you can’t be Welly on a good day and all that.”

As for this year’s Wellington Advent Calendar, Bonnie was so excited for it be brought to life. She couldn’t wait for everyone to see what she and the WellingtonNZ team had dreamed up.

“My art is always pretty bold and playful. I love to use lots of colour and create fun pieces that I hope people find joy in,” says Bonnie. “What’s exciting is that we’ve included something tangible alongside the digital experience.”

So make sure you keep visiting the Wellington Advent Calendar for a daily dose of Bonnie’s creativity, featuring iconic Wellington brands and her joyful designs.