Sonja studied sculpture at the Central School of Art and later at the Royal College of Art in London. Before arriving at Highgreen, she had exhibited widely across England, Ireland, France, Italy and Germany, and was living and working in central London.

During her residency, Sonja immersed herself in the surrounding landscape, spending long hours walking the fells, exploring villages and towns, talking with local people, and collecting objects that became sources of inspiration. Finds such as a sheep’s skull, sprigs of heather, or discarded farm tools often became part of her assemblages. With no television, evenings were filled with poetry, deepening her connection with the landscape. Tennyson’s line, “thou nature be red in tooth and claw,” resonated when she paired together two finds: a sheep’s horn stained red and a heavy iron log-splitting tool. Other influences came through books and radio broadcasts. A discussion on the link between heaven and earth struck a chord, while the phrase Tabula Rasa—a fresh start—captured her feelings for Highgreen after leaving London. It later became the title of her end-of-year exhibition, in which her two- and three-dimensional works reflected on the expansive skies and earth, and on their relationship with one another.

The outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in the winter of 2000–2001 added to the sense of isolation during her stay, but Sonja continued to open her studio to the local community. Informal drop-in drawing sessions were warmly received, and in spring she worked with children at West Woodburn and Greenhaugh schools. Through her guidance, pupils created exuberant sculptural figures from an inventive mix of found materials.

In her logbook, Sonja reflected on her time at Highgreen:

“I don’t want to leave, I’ve forgotten my life in London, made many new friends, can’t stop breathing the good air; despite foot and mouth… I still got an enormous amount from my year’s experience here and I hope I gave something in return.”