In normal mode, the colours I choose work. I switch to insert mode and the colour changes - great! I escape back to normal mode and the colours stay as insert mode.
let g:conoline_color_normal_dark = 'guibg=#180000'
let g:conoline_color_normal_nr_dark = 'guibg=#180000'
let g:conoline_color_insert_dark = 'guibg=#001800'
let g:conoline_color_insert_nr_dark = 'guibg=#001800'
let g:conoline_color_normal_light = 'guibg=#eaeaea'
let g:conoline_color_normal_nr_light = 'guibg=#eaeaea'
let g:conoline_color_insert_light = 'guibg=#ffffff'
let g:conoline_color_insert_nr_light = 'guibg=#ffffff'
let g:conoline_auto_enable = 1