Born in Sunderland, Tyne-and-Wear, England. Art director who entered British film as floor manager for Michael Powell and Eric Pressburger's THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP (1943). He worked as assistant or associate art director on THE WAY AHEAD (1944), A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (1946), BLACK NARCISSUS (1947) and OH... ROSALINDA! (1955). He was art director for THE RED SHOES (1948), THE ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL and GONE TO EARTH (both 1950), THE TALES OF HOFFMAN (1951), THE WILD HEART and THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRIE MEN (both 1952), FOLLY TO BE WISE (1953), FRONT PAGE STORY (1954), HIGH TERRACE (1956), SEA WIFE (1957), HARRY BLACK AND THE TIGER (1958), SINK THE BISMARCK! and PEEPING TOM (both 1960), THE VALIANT and H.M.S. DEFIANT (both 1962), THE BEDORD INCIDENT (1965), THE DOUBLE MAN (1967), THE LOST CONTINENT (1968) and his last film, MIDAS RUN (1969). Lawson served as production designer for three features: THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE (a.k.a. "The Pursuit of the Graf Spee", 1956), HOUR OF DECISION (1957) and THE LEATHER BOYS (1964).  Art Direction/Set Decoration (Color) 1948: THE RED SHOES - Set Decoration 1 nomination, 1 Award