Bonnie Snair—stained glass

Making Light Sing: The Stained Glass Art of Bonnie Snair

“The light can transform something in an instant,” says Bonnie Snair.

As a stained glass artist, Bonnie is intimate with the power of light not only to transform but also to be transformed by colour and pattern.

Bonnie’s studio windows are filled with her stained glass creations, each one responding to the shifting light throughout the day. “At about four o’clock in the afternoon, this space comes alive—it just sings,” she says.

Bonnie’s work spans a variety of forms: landscapes, coastal seascapes, and wildlife portraits transform a window; vertical obelisks add artistry to a garden; wind chimes and mobiles hang overhead. Some pieces are lighthearted and whimsical, some are abstract, and others capture the timeless grandeur of mountains and ocean.

The two-dimensional pieces are framed in salvaged wood that adds its own unique  character—weathered barnboard more than a century old, driftwood collected on beach walks, or live-edge cuts from fallen trees. Sometimes, she begins her creative process with the wood and lets its shape guide the design. One curved piece of driftwood shaped like a fish gave inspired her to cut iridescent glass into scales and arrange them in a shimmering, layered pattern.

Stained glass is an ancient art form that lends itself to constant reinvention, says Bonnie.  “People hear “stained glass,” and often think it’s something old fashioned, but in fact this medium lends itself beautifully to modern, contemporary approaches.”

Bonnie is inspired by nature, particularly the sky in all its moods—sunrise, sunset, the northern lights, the many shades of blue. She began creating in stained glass while living in Alberta and has continued since moving to Denman Island in 2024. The geography of both places is evident in her art.

Bonnie works in her oceanfront studio, Ourglass, with her partner Steve, who builds many of the custom frames.

Contact: bonnie.snair@outlook.com |403-506-4459

See Bonnie’s work on Denman Island: At her studio, Ourglass, by appointment only

Address: 2777 Lacon Rd

Social media: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572325845034