Biography
Bertram Nicholls (b. Didsbury, Manchester, UK 1883 - d. Worthing, West Sussex, UK 1974) studied at the Slade School of Fine Art (1901–4) and then went to Madrid and devoted several months to study of Velasquez. On his return he studied with Fred William Jackson (1859-1918) in Yorkshire. Disillusioned with modern art ideas in London, Nicholls went to Montreuil, outside Paris, in 1911 where he met his first wife. She introduced him to Frank Mura (1861-1913), who painted in Sussex where Nicholls settled at Steyning, and by whom he was inspired by the earlier Dutch masters. Nicholls first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1912, and regularly therafter. During WW1 he was enrolled in Kite Balloon Service of Royal Flying Corps and made panoramic drawings in France. After the war he made extensive research into methods used by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) and the technique of Richard Wilson (1714-1782). His painting Drying the Sails was bought by Tate Gallery in 1921. Nicholls exhibited widely in Britain and abroad, having first solo show at Barbizon House in 1924. He was president of MAFA, 1921–31 and of RBA, 1931–47.
