Born in 1934, Sonia Lawson was daughter of artists Fred Lawson and Muriel Metcalfe, who both lived and painted in the small village of Castle Bolton, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. Lawson's mother suffered from Graves' Disease and was unable to care for the infant Sonia therefore she was brought up in Leyburn by her mother's sister, Marjorie Walker. Lawson studied at Doncaster School of Art in the 1950s and in 1955 gained a place at the Royal College of Art London. Graduating with First class honours she won a travelling scholarship to France and on her return was one of four young artists selected for John Schlesinger's BBC TV documentary ''Private View'' part of the Monitor series. In 1982 Sonia was elected a Royal Academician. An inst...