Painter. Born in Leith, Nicol trained at the Trustees' Academy in Edinburgh under Sir William Allan (1782 - 1850). He taught and painted in Ireland between 1845-50 and is best known for his figurative portrayals in oil of poverty amongst the Irish population during the Potato Famine. He returned to Edinburgh in 1850 and was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy in 1859. He moved to London in 1862 and also exhibited in France.
Several of his works are held by the National Gallery of Ireland, including An Ejected Family (1853), while Wayside Prayer (1852) and The Emigrants (1864) are displayed in the Tate Gallery in London, An Irish Emigrant Landing at Liverpool (1871) is in the National Gallery of Scotland, Driving a Hard Bargain (1860) is held by Aberdeen Art Gallery and A Peasant Uncorking a Bottle is in the Hunterian Art Gallery in Glasgow. Others of his works are held in public collections around the UK.
He died in Feltham, England.