About Sonia Nicolson | Architect, Educator & Creative Mentor

I help architecture students build confidence through hand drawing, sketching, perspective, portfolios, and floor plans so they can think more clearly, communicate their ideas, and enjoy their studies without overwhelm.

But my journey here wasn’t a straight line.

Why I Teach Architecture the Way I Do

I wasn’t the student who breezed through school. I struggled academically and found my way into design by studying Interior Spatial Design at college. That experience shaped how I teach.

How I Found Architecture (Even After Struggling in School)

Determined to prove myself, I earned a place at university and later received a scholarship for Academic Excellence, completing my postgraduate studies in Japan under architect Shinichi Ogawa.

After graduating, I returned to the UK, became a registered Architect with the ARB, and entered the profession just as the 2008 recession hit.

Building a Design School in India & Falling in Love With Teaching

At 29, I moved to India to help establish a new campus for a Singaporean design school. As Senior Lecturer, later promoted to Academic Director, I taught Interior and Architectural Design and discovered my love for teaching and mentoring.

Returning to the UK, I became Head of First Year Interior Architecture at a leading arts university, guiding students through residential, commercial, and cultural design projects. I also worked with the British Council as an academic representative, speaking internationally about design education.

Burnout, Relocation & Starting Again in Iceland

Despite the success, I was exhausted. Endless marking, admin, and travel left me drained. Then life took an unexpected turn - I met my Icelandic partner, Ingimar, and moved to Iceland.

Starting again gave me space to reconnect with drawing.

Reykjavik Sketcher - from Side Project to Business

I began sketching Reykjavík’s buildings and sharing them online under the hashtag #ReykjavikSketcher. People started asking to buy my work, which led to commissions, prints, and an online shop.

At the same time, I created online courses to help students prepare portfolios and build confidence through drawing. What began as a side project grew into a full creative and educational business.

Today, This Is How I Help You

• Courses that teach the drawing and design skills schools expect but rarely teach

• 1:1 mentoring for students who want clarity, guidance, and honest feedback

• Free and paid resources to help you sketch, present, and build creative confidence

Why This Matters to Me

I’m now a full-time entrepreneur, wife, and mum to two bilingual children. I believe creativity is a superpower - and that even in the age of AI, hand drawing and design thinking are what set students apart.

Through sketching, storytelling, and architectural thinking, I help you build the confidence to thrive in architecture school and beyond.

“Sonia’s story made me feel like I wasn’t too late to start again. She helped me reconnect with my creativity after years of burnout, and for the first time in ages, I feel confident in my design work again.”

1:1 Coaching Client, Interior Designer

Qualifications

Professional Memberships & Licenses

Registered Architect, 2009 - Architects Registration Board (ARB)

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2015 (FHEA)

Academic Member, Society of British & International Design, 2014 (SBID)

Academic Qualifications

RIBA Part III, 2009

Postgraduate Diploma in Architecture, 2007 (Japan scholarship year, 2008)

BA (Hons) Architecture, 2004

Advanced Diploma in Interior Spatial Design, 2002

Professional Development & Certifications

Complete Life Coaching Certification Masterclass, 2025 (in progress)

Certified in “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, 2023