Biography

Liz Bonham’s beautiful paintings have been exhibited in fine art galleries and shows across the United States. She holds a BFA degree in painting from Abilene Christian University. At the university’s centennial celebration, she was one of 100 alumni that received the “Change the World Award” for using art to make a difference. She has also done post graduate work in art education and has studied with many well-known artists around the country; including Richard Schmid, John Asaro, Daniel Gerhartz, Ovanes Berberian, Tony Eubanks and Frank Mason. She is an active member of- OPA-Oil Painters of America, WAOW-Women Artist of the West (Signature Member), AIS-American Impressionist Society, PAPNM-Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, and NOAPS-National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society (Signature Member), AWA-American Women Artists (Associate with Distinction), APA-American Plains Artists and OPS-Outdoor Painters Society. She has been a demonstration artist at the Amarillo Art Institute and a judge and workshop instructor for regional and national shows.

Her early career began when she was 15 and working as a pastel portrait artist at Six Flags. After college, she worked as an illustrator in the children’s and gift book market. Her paintings have graced many books, including her Gold Medallion winner, “The Crippled Lamb”, by Max Lucado, and her Silver Medallion winner and Angel Award or Excellence in Media winner, “Timeless Moments”, by Alton Howard. Her book “The Crippled Lamb” has sold almost two million copies. The collector edition of this book includes songs and the story recorded by the voice of Jodi Benson, the voice of “The Little Mermaid”. Her books are sold around the world in different languages, and her publishers include Harper Collins, Scholastic, Word, Howard and Chariot Victor. She has also been National Show Artist for the Appaloosa Journal Magazine and was featured in the magazine.

Liz currently creates fine art oil paintings and has received awards from Plein Air Magazine, National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society, Art Renewal Center, Women Artist of the West, American Plains Artist and numerous plein air competitions including En Plein Air Texas, Lighthouse Plein Air, Outdoor Painters Society and Paint the Town. Her work has been featured in Plein Air Magazine and was one of Southwest Artist Magazine’s “Artists to Watch”. She was a recipient of the inaugural San Angelo Museum of Fine Art- En Plein Air Fellowship and a four-person museum show that included Liz Bonham, Suzie Baker, Carla Bosch and Katie Cundiff.
Liz has been classically trained, and her painting style reflects a contemporary view of this classical training in realism and impressionism. Inspired by the beauty, joy and peace that comes from connecting the spiritual and natural worlds, her studio and plein air paintings explore these relationships of the American west and beyond. Liz regularly travels for plein air painting competitions nationwide and loves to paint landscapes, people and still life from life. Though she had her early training in classical methods, she considers herself a colorist.

Recent Awards:
1st Place and Artist Choice Award Paint the Town 2025
Best Seascape Award, OPS 2024
1st Place En Plein Air Quick Draw Award, 2023
Art Renewal Center Landscape Finalist 2022
Best Seascape Award Lighthouse Plein Air 2022
Best Figurative Award and Best Signature Award 2022