Gönen Atakol was born in 1945 in Nicosia,Cyprus. She completed her secondary education in Cyprus.

She received her BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) degree with Highest Distinction” from The Pennsylvania State University, USA in 1972.Sheranked first in the graduating class of’72,and was The Student Marshal. She received the “Edwin W.Zoller” award for Academic and Artistic achievement in 1971.

She started teaching Art and Art History at Turkish Maarif College (TMK) Nicosia in March 1975. She retired in June 1996 after 21 years of active teaching.
She exhibited in single and colleetive art exhibitions in North Cyprus,Turkey and USA.

Her Retrospeetive Exhibition titled ”GÖNEN ATAKOL: Down The Line 1967-2014” Curated by Dr. Esra Plumer and Zehra Şonya was opened on 24 March 2014 at the Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center, Grand Exhibition Hall by the joint organization of EMU -Center for Cyprus Studies and EMM – European Mediterranean Art Association.

Her paintings are in State collections in North Cyprus and in private collections in Turkey, UK, Germany, USA and NorthCyprus. She works at her studio in Girne.