Why we started Bonnie 'n' Braw

By Ally

If you had told me back in 2020 that a global pandemic, a stack of paintbrushes, and a slightly chaotic creative itch would lead to us running our own workshops… I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

But here we are.

Emma and I met in 2019, both working as art teachers, sharing the same love for creativity and the buzz that comes from helping others find it too. We became instant pals! Then, like it did for everyone, Covid turned everything upside down. Overnight, our classrooms became screens. We were teaching online, juggling key worker provision in schools, and like so many others, trying to stay grounded in a world that suddenly felt very small.

We needed something for ourselves. Something creative, something joyful, something that wasn’t tied to lesson plans or uncertainty.

So we started making.

At first, it was just for fun. A way to switch off, experiment, and reconnect with why we loved art in the first place. But as Christmas crept closer, we had an idea: what if we tried selling a few art pieces online?

That “what if” escalated quickly.

Our Instagram

Before we knew it, we were printing, packing, and posting our designs and Christmas cards all over the world. One of our cards even made its way to NASA in the US, which still feels completely surreal. Two art teachers in Scotland, sending handmade cards across the globe. Crazy, in the best way.

From there, we started attending craft markets, meeting incredible makers from across Scotland. Those early days were full-on, early mornings, packed cars, unpredictable weather, but we loved it. Not just selling our work, but connecting with people who were just as passionate about creating as we were.

And of course, no Bonnie ‘n’ Braw outing would be complete without our CEO, Luffy, in spirit… and sometimes in slightly chaotic real-life involvement.

Even then, though, we knew this wasn’t the final destination. It was a stepping stone. A really important one. We learned so much about running a business, about our own style, about what people connected with, but something was still missing.

In 2023, it clicked.

Why not combine the two things we love most: art and teaching?

Between us, we have such a wide range of skills, and honestly, nothing beats seeing someone light up when they realise they can create something they’re proud of. That’s what pushed us to evolve Bonnie ‘n’ Braw into something more, an educational, workshop-based business built around creativity, confidence, and community.

In 2025, we started small. Running workshops, testing ideas, figuring out what worked (and what definitely didn’t). It was a year of learning, adapting, and growing.

And now, in early 2026, we’ve taken our biggest step yet.

We’ve rented our very first space for a short time to give our workshops a real go.

The two weeks will be the first time we’ve run workshops back-to-back in our own space, and we couldn’t be more excited… or more nervous. We want to try everything, from adult classes to children’s workshops, ASN sessions to more specialist creative experiences. The possibilities feel endless.

But if we’re honest, it’s also terrifying.

The financial commitment. The workload. The unknown. It’s a big leap. But we also know that the potential rewards, building a creative community, meeting like-minded people, and helping others discover their own creativity, are worth every bit of fear.

We’ve worked so hard to get here, and this feels like just the beginning.

Bonnie ‘n’ Braw has grown from a creative outlet during a strange and difficult time into something we truly believe in. And we can’t wait to see where it goes next.

If you’re on this journey with us, whether you’ve bought a card, come to a market, or joined a workshop, thank you. It means more than we can say.

Here’s to the next chapter.

Ally and Emma x