Who am I?

Sonia Kenny Art

Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m Sonia Kenny, an artist based in beautiful North Yorkshire. Just
by being here, you’re supporting a big dream of mine: to one day share my work on a wider stage.


Art’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember, but it’s only in the last few years that I’ve
started to put my work out into the world. My latest project, Forgive Us Mother Nature, For We
Know Not What We Do, is something really close to my heart. It’s sparked a passion in me like
nothing else I’ve done before.


Have a browse, take your time; I’m so glad you’re here.

My Beginnings

My Artistic Journey

Art has always been an intrinsic part of who I am. From childhood, I found joy in crafts, creating greeting cards, drawing, and even staging puppet shows. It was the one subject where I consistently excelled in school. While I explored various interests, including a brief intention to study Astronomy, I ultimately recognised art as my true calling.

I honed my skills at Leeds College of Art, completing my Art Foundation Course. This led me to the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where I earned my BA Honours in Set and Costume Design for Theatre. During my university years, I discovered a profound ambition to work in the Art Department for TV & Film. I was incredibly fortunate to gain work experience on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, contributing to the Art, Costume, and Props Departments. This experience was truly life-changing, solidifying my desire to work in film. After several years pursuing this dream, and successfully completing rewarding projects like a Nike advert and a short film with the National Film and Television School, I encountered the challenging reality of significant cuts to art funding. This made it increasingly difficult to sustain my ambition in the film industry.

Admitting defeat, and with the practical need to pay bills, I left London and relocated to York. For a time, my creative pursuits had to take a back seat as I focused on full-time employment.

A New Chapter: Embracing My True Calling

The desire to create steadily grew over the years, reaching a critical point around 2020. I must wholeheartedly credit my husband for reigniting that passion within me; without his unwavering support, I simply wouldn't be where I am today. The arrival of Covid-19, like for many, prompted a reassessment of my life's direction. In 2021, with my husband's encouragement, I took the leap: I left my full-time job and embarked on the challenging yet deeply rewarding path of selling my artwork. At the same time we moved to Helmsley in North Yorkshire, embracing a new environment which was a rich source of inspiration.

For the past few years, I’ve been creating and selling prints of North Yorkshire landscapes, depicting various key scenes across this naturally diverse county. While I've enjoyed sharing this work at numerous craft markets, I now feel a powerful pull to explore a subject that resonates even more deeply with me.

It’s taken approximately five years to reach this current stage. While I may look back and critique some of my earlier commercial work, I have no regrets. It's been an invaluable learning curve, with both highs and lows, that has ultimately guided me to understand what I truly want to paint.

My Latest Project

"Forgive Us Mother Nature, For We Know Not What We Do"

My latest project has been a profound source of inspiration since early last year. My lifelong passion for animals, coupled with a growing concern for climate change and its devastating impact on nature, ignited this series. I felt an increasing urgency to counteract voices denying climate change and to address the alarming rate at which we consume natural resources, alongside the rising tide of waste in our rivers and seas due to political negligence.

I often questioned what impact I, a relatively unknown artist from a small island, could truly make. I've never been one for poetic writing or fierce debates. My only true weapon was my paintbrush. It became clear: if I couldn't fight in any other way, then my art would be my voice.

However, I didn't want to simply depict the negative impacts we often see on social media and in documentaries. Instead, my aim is to celebrate the exquisite beauty of nature; to highlight how incredibly fortunate we are to coexist with these magnificent birds and beasts. They are not to be taken for granted. Every aspect of nature plays a vital role, and it is imperative that we respect this interconnectedness and do everything within our power to nurture the planet we call home.

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