Sonia Nicolson
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Sonia Nicolson

Architect & former lecturer helping you build confidence in hand drawing, design and your creative career.

Blog | Tips, Stories & Resources for Design Students

Read practical tips, creative stories & resources for students, architects & designers - from career advice to hand drawing, sketching & studio life.

Sonia Nicolson
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Blog

Architecture & Design Drawing | Architecture Education & Career | Creative Practice & Business | Life & Creativity

Discover inspiring stories, sketching tips, and creative insights from Sonia Nicolson — Chartered Architect, Educator & Founder of Reykjavik Sketcher. Learn how to draw like an architect and design a creative life you love.

 
January 21, 2026

An Instagram Guide To Reykjavik

January 21, 2026/ Sonia Nicolson
An Instagram Guide To Reykjavik

Instagram is like a travel photobook and I often look up places I am visiting to see what it looks like and get some ideas for posts too. So if you are like me, and are planning a trip to Reykjavik, here are my top 10 Instagram spots in Reykjavik - why not tag me @sonianicolson so I can see where you went.

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January 21, 2026/ Sonia Nicolson/
Life & Creativity
life-creativity
February 16, 2024

Balancing Business and Motherhood

February 16, 2024/ Sonia Nicolson
Balancing Business and Motherhood

You might have noticed my content is moving a little more towards architecture, drawing, and, in general, entrepreneurship. Life is and should be, after all, about natural growth and constant evolution. 

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February 16, 2024/ Sonia Nicolson/
Life & Creativity
life-creativity, creative-career
September 20, 2021

Back to work after maternity leave

September 20, 2021/ Sonia Nicolson
Back to work after maternity leave

Back when I was pregnant with Angus, and in preparation for maternity leave and life with two children, I took some time to plan how I wanted my business to work and grow as my family grew, and my focus understandably got challenged. 

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September 20, 2021/ Sonia Nicolson/
Life & Creativity
life-creativity, creative-career
February 25, 2021

My Thoughts On Turning 40

February 25, 2021/ Sonia Nicolson
My Thoughts On Turning 40

I’m sharing my thoughts on turning 40 and opening up about life in my 30s and what I want to achieve in my 40s as a Wife, Mum, and Entrepreneur.

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February 25, 2021/ Sonia Nicolson/
Life & Creativity
life-creativity
February 18, 2016

Finding Home and Creativity in Reykjavik, Iceland

February 18, 2016/ Sonia Nicolson
Finding Home and Creativity in Reykjavik, Iceland

After years of constant movement and academic pressure, Iceland gave me the space to breathe again. Sketching Reykjavik helped me find home, reconnect with creativity, and redefine what balance means as both an architect and a mum.

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February 18, 2016/ Sonia Nicolson/
Life & Creativity
life-creativity
August 23, 2013

Designing for Change in Ecuador: How Volunteering Shaped My Purpose as an Architect

August 23, 2013/ Sonia Nicolson
Designing for Change in Ecuador: How Volunteering Shaped My Purpose as an Architect

Volunteering in Ecuador with Architecture Sans Frontières changed the way I saw design. Through participatory workshops in Quito’s informal settlements, I learned that architecture isn’t just about buildings - it’s about people, community, and the power of collaboration.

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August 23, 2013/ Sonia Nicolson/
Life & Creativity
life-creativity
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About Sonia Nicolson

Sonia Nicolson is a British Chartered Architect (ARB) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). As an Architect and Creative Educator based in Iceland, she helps students and designers build confidence in hand drawing, design, and portfolio skills.

Start your journey on the Start Here page.


Start Here

New to my blog? Begin with these reader favourites on studying architecture, portfolios, and learning to draw.

Blog | Tips, Stories & Resources for Design Students
Architecture Student Starter Guide
Mastering One-Point Perspective: Essential Guide for Interior Design and Architecture Students
The Complete Guide to Studying Architecture at University
Architecture & Design Portfolio Preparation Guide (University Interviews)

Want more support? Explore my Free Resources and Courses.

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Sonia Nicolson

Architect & former University Lecturer turned Entrepreneur. I help female Entrepreneurs successfully Design & Build their Creative Businesses in Interior Design, Architecture & Urban Sketching. 


Portrait of Sonia Nicolson, architect, educator, and creative mentor, smiling in her design studio workspace.

Hi, I’m Sonia

Architect & Creative Educator helping you design and build your career and creative business in Interior Design, Architecture and Urban Sketching.

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Professional Credentials

  • ARB - British Chartered Architect

  • FHEA - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

  • Senior Lecturer, Arts University Bournemouth (UK)

  • Academic Representative, British Council (Design Education)

  • Academic Director, Raffles Design Institute (India)


Promotional graphic for Sonia Nicolson’s free Architect’s Lettering Workbook, featuring a hand-drawn workbook on a laptop with the text “Learn how to write like an architect and develop your own style.”
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Architectural Drawing Shop | Courses, eBooks & Prints by Sonia Nicolson
Hand-Drawn Architectural Sketch (physical artwork)
Hand-Drawn Architectural Sketch (physical artwork)
from $150.00
Custom Digital House Portrait - Architectural Sketch Commission
Custom Digital House Portrait - Architectural Sketch Commission
from $400.00

 
 

Sonia Nicolson

Reykjavík, Iceland | Architect, former University Lecturer, artist

Teaching architecture through hand drawing, sketching, and architectural thinking, and creating original artwork and commissions from the same practice.

 
 

Join me behind the scenes - sketching Reykjavik, studio life, and creative tutorials. Follow along on Instagram @SoniaNicolson

 
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