Music and visual arts have shaped and dominated her life. She received her Master of Art degree in her native Poland. She was a soloist at the Polish National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Warsaw, won many operatic competitions including The International Operatic Competition Francisco J. Viñas in Barcelona Spain. Shortly after arriving in Canada, she won competition to join the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio.
Music was not the only way she tried to express herself, throughout the course of her Masters, she extensively studied the History of Art, drew and painted.
After moving to King City, almost 23 years ago, she began drawing butterflies,
and continued drawing them ever since. Her studies are in private collections in Australia, British Virgin Islands, Canada, England, Holland,
Poland, Sweden and the U.S.
In 2001 she become the curator of the private Gallery Solo in King City, and organized exhibitions of prominent Canadian Artists,
some honored by the Order of Canada. Under her leadership the gallery organized exhibits of: tapestry, paintings, photography, and sculptures.
In the last five years she had nine solo exhibits, and seven group shows in Canada.
For thirty-five years she has been a member of Canadian Actors Equity Association, and The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists. G. Tonkiel was on the board of Directors of the Arts Society King, as well as the Schomberg Street Gallery Committee, and was the President of the Arts Society King.
She is dedicated to the butterfly conservation efforts, frequently writes articles about butterflies for the King Weekly Sentinel and is a sought-after lecturer and speaker about butterflies. She is a member of Toronto Entomologists Association. Since 2017, her home garden has been certified as the Wildlife and Butterfly Habitat.
G. Tonkiel often donates her work to support conservation efforts.