Phoebe Lawrie, Class of 2018
LEH alumna Phoebe Lawrie shares how studying Art, Maths and Physics at A Level led her to architecture, a career that combines creativity, technical thinking and problem-solving every day.
Where Creativity Meets Science
You don’t need to be creative or scientific
When Phoebe chose her A Levels, she didn’t feel she had to decide between being creative or scientific. Instead, she chose subjects that reflected both sides of her interests: Art, Maths and Physics. It was a combination that would become the perfect foundation for a career in architecture.
Since leaving LEH, Phoebe has followed the seven-year route to qualification as an architect, studying at the Oxford School of Architecture before completing her Master’s at the University of Westminster. Alongside her studies, she has gained practical experience in industry and is now completing the final stage of her professional qualification.
For Phoebe, architecture offered something unique, the opportunity to combine creative thinking with technical knowledge to shape the built environment.
“I believe this is the best way for me to contribute to an important industry while allowing me to combine my creative and scientific interests.”
The power of combining subjects
Looking back, Phoebe believes studying Art alongside Maths and Physics gave her an advantage that continues to shape her career.
While Art developed her creative process, portfolio-building and visual communication skills, Maths and Physics strengthened her analytical thinking. Together, they taught her how to create solutions that balance beauty with practicality.
“My combination of subjects at A Level has guided me in how to combine a mathematical and creative mind to produce outcomes which value both practicality and aesthetics.”
Even though she doesn’t paint professionally, the principles she learned through Art: composition, colour and form remain fundamental to the way she designs today.
More than just drawing buildings
Many people think architecture is simply about drawing. Phoebe’s university studies revealed a much broader discipline, bringing together design, engineering, history, sociology, technology and business. Every project required creative thinking alongside an understanding of how people live, how cities evolve and how buildings perform.
“I found that, while I had anticipated a largely creative course, it also demanded an awareness of history, socio-political context, technology and business.”
That breadth is exactly what continues to make architecture so rewarding.
A career without limits
No two days are the same. One morning might involve producing technical drawings to meet fire safety regulations; the afternoon could be spent creating visualisations to help clients imagine a future building. Success depends on being able to move confidently between creativity and technical precision.
“Being able to study a variety of subjects has allowed me to pursue a career which is proudly non-specialist.”
For Phoebe, that’s one of the greatest strengths of an LEH education: the freedom to pursue a wide range of interests without having to choose between them too early.
Fearless Futures
What advice would Phoebe give to LEH students?
Pheobe’s advice is simple: don’t feel you have to choose between being creative and being analytical.
“Being able to study a variety of subjects has allowed me to pursue a career which is proudly non-specialist.”
For Phoebe, studying Art alongside Maths and Physics gave her the confidence to combine imagination with technical thinking, an approach that has become central to her career in architecture.
She encourages students to embrace a broad range of interests and recognise that the most rewarding careers often sit at the intersection of different disciplines. The ability to think creatively, solve problems and communicate ideas visually is valuable far beyond the art studio.