Hello Chicago!!
Sophia Lappe Studios Has Relocated to Chicago!
After six wonderful years living in Scotland, my husband and I moved back to my hometown of Chicago last week! The past few months have been full of packing, goodbyes, travel, and settling into our new home. So, I took a short break from studio work to make the international move. I’m very happy to share that Sophia Lappe Studios will be back to business as usual July 1, 2026!
A Bittersweet Goodbye to Scotland
Leaving Scotland has been bittersweet because it has been such an important part of my life, our marriage and work. It’s where I met my incredible husband, where his family still lives, and where we’ve made lifelong friends, so this move is not really a goodbye. We know we’ll be back often!
I’ll miss so many things about our Scottish life: local pubs with friends and family, Saturday parkruns, the very friendly running community, the hills and wildlife, and the feeling that you never have to drive very far to find something breathtaking. Scotland is such a beautiful place, and I’m so grateful for the time we had there!
View from the canal in Inverness
How Scotland Shaped My Work as a Medical Artist
Professionally, Scotland is also where much of my studio’s foundation was built. I trained as a Medical Artist at the University of Dundee, grew my studio, and honed the drawing style that continues to guide my work today. So much of what I do now was shaped by those years: the training, the projects, the people, and the steady development of my own creative style.
I’m so grateful for the years we spent in Scotland and for the people, places, and projects that shaped that part of my life. At the same time, I’m thrilled to be back in Chicago and to begin this next season of Sophia Lappe Studios!
A New Studio Home Base in Chicago
Although my studio has a new home base, my work will continue in the same way. I’ll still be offering medical illustration and design services for clients in healthcare, education, research, and wellness. I’m especially excited to be back in a city with such a strong healthcare, research, and creative community, and I’m looking forward to joining more professional artist organizations, connecting with local creatives, and exploring everything Chicago has to offer at the intersection of anatomy, science, and art.
And, of course, I’m excited to reconnect with family and friends here in Chicago. The food scene is already making me feel very much at home, Johnnie’s Beef is on the menu next week!
Now Booking Medical Illustration & Design Projects starting July 1
As I settle in, I’m looking forward to connecting with more clients in Chicago while continuing to support clients across a wide range of health and science topics. For current clients, thank you so much for your patience during this transition. For new clients, I’ll be taking on projects again starting July 1 and would love to hear from you!
Thank you for following along with my studio’s work. I’m so excited for this next chapter and can’t wait to share new projects from Chicago very soon!
Double rainbow in Inverness
If you’d like to work together, have questions or need advice about medical art, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
I’ve turned some of my favorite illustrations into high-quality prints. You can find them right here in my shop!
