Hacer Sönmez was born in 1972 in Trabzon. She completed her education in Ottoman, Persian and Arabic languages between 1992 and 2000 and got her license. She studied khatt with masters like Hasan Çelebi, Fuat Başar and Zehra Dinçer. Between 2009 and 2013, she received illumination training from Arda Çakmak at Classical Turkish Arts Foundation. Sönmez, who has the title of State Artist, is continuing as an instructor at İSMEK, which she started in 2008. She is also teaching illumination in Eyup Bahariye Mevlevihane (a lodge used by Mevlevi dervishes) Art Workshops Group, where she is also a member.