“CINZIA” BONADA RBA nee Cynthia Boyd, adopted the Italian pseudonym whilst dancing in Italy. She trained as a classical dancer at the Bush Davies School winning the Adeline Genee Medal in 1955 before joining The Royal Ballet School. Rather tall for ballet she danced on the continent for some years before meeting her future husband, Johnny Bonada (Chef d’orchestre at the Sporting Club, Monte Carlo).
She became a full time painter when the family, Laura, Jenny and John came to live in England. She painted with Charles Fowler in Richmond, undertaking many portrait commissions (especially of children).
The first painting accepted at the RA Summer Exhibition was in 1975, “Le petit chalet”.
Exhibited with RA, NEAC, RBA, RP, New Grafton.
One person show at the Mall Galleries in the ’80s.
Joined Peter Garrard’s class at ILEA, London.
Became a full member of the RBA in 1993.
Founder member of the Small Paintings Group.
Her work is at present in Drapers Hall, London, Art Workers Guild (portrait of Dennis Flanders RBA), Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club (portrait of Sir John Hill FRS), Lampeter University, Wales and private collections in the British Isles, USA, Canada, Iceland, Japan and on the continent.
Cinzia paint portraits, landscape and still life in oils and mixed media.
Admires / influenced by Vuillard, Bonnard and Bernard Dunstan RA.
2003 : Had a solo show at the Wings Restaurant – Wigmore Hall, also at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
Has shown at the Affordable Art Show at Olympia, Fine Art and Antiques Exhibition, John Iddon Fine Art show of Contemporary Art, Gallery 47, Great Russell Street and the Drawing Fair at the RCA.
Cinzia has featured in The Artist Magazine and won first prize for Artistic Excellence from Chelsea and Westminster Arts Council two years running. She also appeared in Tom Coates’ publication of Portraits.
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