Read practical tips, creative stories & resources for students, architects & designers - from career advice to hand drawing, sketching & studio life.
Architecture school can feel relentless - long studio hours, constant deadlines, and the pressure to be creative all the time. This realistic guide shows how to study architecture effectively, manage your workload, build a strong portfolio, and avoid burnout, from a former architecture lecturer.
Read MoreSonia Nicolson is a Chartered Architect and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, with 15+ years of international experience in Architecture, Interior Architecture & Design, and design education. As a Senior Lecturer, she has taught and mentored over 8,000 students worldwide and now helps aspiring architecture and interior design students develop confidence in hand drawing, visual communication, and portfolio preparation.
Through her courses, ebooks, and mentoring, Sonia specialises in making complex design skills clear, practical, and accessible - especially for students preparing for college, university, applications, or a career in the built environment.
Start your journey on the Start Here page.
New to my blog? Begin with these reader favourites on studying architecture, portfolios, and learning to draw.
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A comprehensive guide for future architecture and design students. Learn how to choose the right course, prepare your portfolio, fund your studies, and thrive at university.
Preparing for an architecture or design university interview? This comprehensive portfolio preparation guide, written by a former university lecturer, shows you exactly what to include, how to present your work, and what interviewers are really looking for, so you can walk in feeling confident and prepared.
Want more support? Explore my Free Resources and Courses.
Architect & former University Lecturer turned Entrepreneur. I help female Entrepreneurs successfully Design & Build their Creative Businesses in Interior Design, Architecture & Urban Sketching.
Architect & former University Lecturer helping Architecture students succeed.
Chartered Architect
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Senior Lecturer, Arts University Bournemouth (UK)
Academic Representative, British Council (Design Education)
Academic Director, Raffles Design Institute (India)
A personalised, one-of-a-kind gift for home lovers, weddings, anniversaries, and milestone memories.
Each sketch is hand-drawn in ink by Architect & Illustrator Sonia Nicolson (The Reykjavik Sketcher), on premium art paper and signed. No AI, no filters, a real architectural drawing created by hand.
These commissions have been gifted for Christmas, housewarmings, engagements, graduation, first homes and travel memories, a thoughtful keepsake that lasts.
A6 black & white line drawing (105 × 148 mm / 4.1 × 5.8in) $150
A5 black & white line drawing (148 × 210 mm / 5.8 × 8.3in) $200
A4 black & white line drawing (210 × 297 mm / 8.3 × 11.7in) $300
Place your order and choose your size
Contact us with your photo and any notes
I hand-draw your sketch within 7–10 business days
Your signed original is shipped, ready to frame
Medium: Pen & ink on premium art paper
Use: Personal use only (commercial licensing available on request)
These sketches are hand-drawn by a Chartered Architect, signed, and shipped worldwide - a meaningful piece of art created with precision and care.
A timeless architectural illustration drawn by hand (not AI) by Chartered Architect & Illustrator Sonia Nicolson. Delivered as a high-resolution A3 JPEG that you can print as many times as you like for personal use.
This digital option is perfect for Christmas gifting when shipping time is too tight for physical delivery.
A3 black & white line drawing (297 × 420 mm / 11.7 × 16.5in) $400
A3 rendered colour illustration (297 × 420 mm / 11.7 × 16.5in) $550
Place your order and choose black & white or colour
Contact us with your photo and any notes
I hand-draw your illustration digitally with architectural accuracy
You receive a high-resolution A3 JPEG by email within 7–10 business days
Digital file only, no physical print shipped
Final file supplied at A3 size (297 × 420 mm / 11.7 × 16.5 in)
Personal use only, commercial licensing available on request
Hand-drawn by a Chartered Architect with hundreds of commissions delivered worldwide - a meaningful, professional gift that feels personal and permanent.
Helping architecture students and creative women build confidence through drawing, creativity and lived experience.
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How to Draw One-Point Perspective: A Step-by-Step Guide for Architecture & Interior Design Students