About
Sonia Lawson studied at the Royal College of Art in the late
1950s earning a first and a travelling scholarship to France.
On her return, Sonia taught at the Harrow School of Art and
Central St Martin’s School of Art and then at the West Surrey
College of Art.
Born in 1934, Sonia Lawson was raised in the small village of Castle Bolton, Wensleydale, the only child of Fred
and Muriel Lawson, (both artists). Sonia recalled:
“Times were very raw and hard, but there was never poverty in anything but money.
We read a lot and talked and cared for each other very much. The hills, moors and vast open skies were uplifting!
Even the bad times were good!”
Her parents welcomed many like minded artists and scholars to their
home, including James Kirkup, J.B Priestley, Philip Naviasky,
Dorothy Una Ratcliffe, & Jacob Kramer, amongst many others.
This creative upbringing seemed natural to Sonia, her various ‘Night
Writing and Reading’ drawings, paintings & sketches are an obvious
homage to this milieux.
In the 1980s her series of paintings exploring the Brontës drew together
several important themes: the female muse, poet, nurturer and the
hidden toil that these women do (perhaps by candlelight once their daily
chores were completed) all became touchstones.
Many of these works are now in public collections.
Sonia was elected a Royal Academician in 1982 and received further recognition for her work including awards from
the Eastern Arts Drawing Prize & the Lorne Award. In 1985 she was elected as a member of the Royal Watercolour
Society. Sonia was elected as an Honorary RWA in 2005.
Throughout her career Sonia has also been given several commissions including one for the University Centre in
Birmingham and the Imperial War Museum in London.
In 1989, she was commissioned by Lambeth Palace for a work presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury to Pope
John Paul II, which is now in the Vatican Collection, Rome. Sonia also illustrated several books and short stories by
Fay Weldon, Linda Saunders and James Kirkup amongst others.
She divided her time between her studios in Bedfordshire and Wensleydale.
She died at the age of 88 in 2023, having bravely borne Parkinson’s Disease for many years, an illness which
dismantled her creative soul.
In 2002 Sonia wrote with heartbreaking prescience: ‘If I can’t paint, I’m like an exile.’
left to right: Sonia Lawson, Olywn Bowey and Elizabeth Keys
Graduating from The Royal College of Art, London, 1958
(The Royal Albert Hall in the background).
Sonia Lawson & grandson Leo in the studio. 2009
All images: copyright the estate of Sonia Lawson
CONTACT
Diarist. 1992. Pen and Ink on Paper
(Night Writing Series)
Tea time at Howarth with the Brontës . c.1982, oil on Canvas
Monograph detailing Sonia’s life and work:
‘Passions and Alarms’.
Author: Nicholas Usherwood
Full colour reproductions.
Printed by Sanson & Co. 2014
All images: copyright the estate of Sonia Lawson
CONTACT
About
Lawson studied at the Royal College of Art in the
late 1950’s earning a first and a travelling
scholarship to France.
On her return, Sonia taught at the Harrow School
of Art and Central St Martin’s School of Art and
then at the West Surrey College of Art.
Born in 1934, Sonia Lawson was raised in the small
village of Castle Bolton, Wensleydale, the only child
of Fred and Muriel Lawson, (both artists). Sonia
recalled:
“Times were very raw and hard, but there was never
poverty in anything but money.
We read a lot and talked and cared for each other
very much. The hills, moors and vast open
skies were uplifting! Even the bad times were good!”
Her parents welcomed many like minded artists
and scholars to their home, including James
Kirkup, J.B Priestly, Philip Naviasky, Dorothy Una
Ratcliffe, & Jacob Kramer, amongst many others.
This creative upbringing seemed natural to Sonia,
her various ‘Night Writing and Reading’ drawings,
paintings & sketches are an obvious homage to
this milieux.
In the 1980s her series of paintings exploring the
Brontës drew together several important themes:
the female muse, poet, nurturer and the hidden
toil that these women do (perhaps by candlelight
once their daily chores were completed) all
became touchstones. Many of these works are
now in public collections.
Sonia was elected a Royal Academician in 1982
and received further recognition for her work
including awards from the Eastern Arts Drawing
Prize & the Lorne Award. In 1985 she was elected
as a member of the Royal Watercolour Society.
Sonia was elected as an Honorary RWA in 2005.
Throughout her career Sonia has also been given
several commissions including one for the
University Centre in Birmingham and the Imperial
War Museum in London.
In 1989, she was commissioned by Lambeth
Palace for a work presented by the Archbishop of
Canterbury to Pope John Paul II, which is now in
the Vatican Collection, Rome. Sonia also
illustrated several books and short stories by Fay
Weldon, Linda Saunders and James Kirkup
amongst others.
She divided her time between her studios in
Bedfordshire and Wensleydale.
She died at the age of 88 in 2023 having bravely
borne Parkinson’s Disease for many years,
an illness which dismantled her creative soul.
In 2002 Sonia wrote with heartbreaking
prescience: ‘If I can’t paint, I’m like an exile.’
left to right: Sonia Lawson,
Olywn Bowey and Elizabeth Keys
Graduating from The Royal College of Art,
London, 1958
(The Royal Albert Hall in the background).
Monograph detailing Sonia’s life and work:
‘Passions and Alarms’.
Author: Nicholas Usherwood
Full colour reproductions.
Printed by Sanson & Co. 2014
Sonia Lawson & grandson Leo in the studio. 2009
Diarist. 1992.
Pen and Ink on Paper
(Night Writing Series)
SONIA LAWSON
