Sonia was educated at Glasgow University, graduating with a B.Sc. in agricultural botany. She worked in scientific publishing as editor of Chemoreception Abstracts.

In 1988 she started studying printmaking at Morley College. She is a founder member of Half Moon Printmakers, a member of the cooperatives Southbank Printmakers and Greenwich Printmakers, and a past vice-chair of the Printmakers' Council.

Her interest in animals started in childhood with a pig called Hilary, geese called Charlie and Cassandra, and a mongrel, Pearl.

Training as a biologist meant, observing plants and animals, drawing them to aid understanding. But now she can have fun with her drawings and making them into etchings.