Erskine Nicol: Artist

Erskine Nicol was a Scottish painter.

An Irish card party, illustrated by Erskine Nicol

Born in South Leith, Midlothian, in 25 July 1826, the son of James Main Nicol, a wine cooper, and his wife Margaret (nee Alexander). He was a student of William Allan. He taught in Dublin between 1845 and 1850 at the height of the Irish famine and he allied himself strongly with the Irish, making frequent trips to Ireland and portraying Irish people sympathetically and perceptively in his paintings.

Nicol was made an associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1855 and a full Academician in 1859. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and was made an associate in 1866. He also exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy and the British Institution.

Nicol was married to Janet (Jessie) Watson with whom he had three children, James Watson (1851- ), Jane Margaret (1852- ) and John Watson (1856-1926).

Nicol lived at the Dell, Feltham, Middlesex, where he died on 8 March 1904. He was survived by his second wife, Margaret Mary Nicol (nee Wood), whom he married at St. Lukes, Chelsea, on 20 April 1865. They had at least three children, Elizabeth (1866- ), Erskine Edward (1868-1926) and Percy Wood (1871- ).

He died in 1904. A commemorative exhibition of his work was held at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1905.

Many more pictures by Erskine Nicol can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.