Painter, printmaker and teacher, born in Darlington, County Durham, who was brought up in the Yorkshire Dales. She studied at Doncaster College of Art and then Royal College of Art, 1956–9, under Carel Weight, gaining first-class honours, a postgraduate year and a travelling scholarship to France. She lectured at the College and Royal Academy Schools. Lawson made many mixed-show appearances, including RA, Midland Group, Tolly Cobbold and John Moores Exhibition, Liverpool, 1991–2, with a powerful canvas, Grieving Women. Held her first solo show at Zwemmer Gallery in 1960, other major exhibitions including a retrospective at New City Gallery, Milton Keynes, and tour, 1982–3; Manchester City Art Gallery, 1987; and Wakefield and Bradford, 1988; and a 30-year retrospective at Dean Clough Galleries, Halifax, 1996.