While in school in Scotland, Nicholls gained recognition for his two-seater welded tubular steel and stainless steel wire chair at Edinburgh College of Art. In 1980, Design reg. No.995257, his first prototypal piece, was acknowledged as “uncluttered and straightforward”, “a clean starting point and an attempt to reduce the object to its original state”. Alongside British Designer Craftsmen, John Makepeace and Martin Grierson, the collection was shown at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1980, in The Fine Arts Society in Glasgow, showing “Charles Rennie Mackintosh and The Modern Movement” in 1980, at the “Light” exhibition in “High-Tech”, Milan in 1983, alongside Gaetano Pesce, James Irvine, Philippe Starck, Jasper Morrison, Massimo Iosa Ghini, Ron Arad, “Shiro” and “other young guns”. The Asflexi prototypes were also editorialized extensively throughout the world during this period. In the early 1980s he worked briefly for Sottsass Associati after completing his master's thesis with Sottsass at the Domus Academy from 1984 to 1985. Whilst in Milan, Nicholls also collaborated with Prospero Rasulo of Studio Alchimia and Nanda Vigo to design and re-define the interior of Bar Montmartre, Brera Milan in 1985. In 1985 he moved to New York and launched his “BEAST” furniture line. Over 25 prototypes were produced to exact craftsmanship, comprising: Angus, Arianne, Arno and the Aston credenza. At its source, in the workshop this period also inspired a portfolio of freehand sketches in charcoal and silver wash. The studio also was active in product design and the “Hi-Tech” re-design of Tribeca lofts, where Nicholls resided.
Nicholls Modern Carpets
Following the creation of his own design firm in New York City, Nicholls introduced an array of textile designs that have been widely recognised for their unique “tuned” colour palette. The company has over 200 registered designs and distribution to architects and designers internationally. The emphasis for chemical free rugs and pure methodology in production is reflected in his Pureloom brand. Nicholls’ rugs and floor textiles have been published in several media outlets, and he has been at the forefront of Hi-End Couture design for over twenty-five years. Architectural Digest', The New York Times Magazine', Elle Décor, Interior Design, Vogue, Wallpaper, World of Interiors, Hamptons Cottages and Gardens, Phoenix Home & Garden and other publications have all editorialised designs and work by Nicholls. Nicholls' carpet designs include Badoura, Prado, Maui, Lima, and Domino. His rugs received the Editors Award at the ICFF and the ROSCOE Award. Nicholls' current design firm produces and markets all the designs of Nicholls. The company produces Tibetan carpets “True-to-Hand” traditional method in wool/silk, Indian fine Flatweave & Bessarabian floor textiles and complex multi weave Aquaterra. Recently presented in New York and Europe the machine made program titled GENOME was launched.
Earth Years
Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Nicholls developed Tsunami Mitigation architecture for the dispersion of wave energy and advantaged positioning of low-lying structures, for survival. In April 2015, an earthquake struck in Nepal and killed over 8,000 people. Nicholls, from a family of Scottish engineers, executed an anti-seismic re-build of the Carpet factory in Kathmandu. In 2017, Nicholls noted the “break-down” of “North Sea Oil and Gas” assets and set up Arkhabitat Limited as a company to re-work structures that anchor and float with the global tidal rise. The Geodesic Dome provided fodder for research in the design of a protective, transparent shell with the ramp architecture housed safely within.
Printmaking
In Glasgow, Nicholls started a printmaking project, which focused upon the process of metal plate etching. The subject matter initiated with his portfolio of original drawings produced throughout his life, particularly “The intense Drawing Years 2011- 2017 his travels across the world, the USA, Europe and Asia. The first edition is a depiction of Camelback Mountain, Phoenix, Arizona. At the Glasgow Print Studio, Museum standards are adhered to from start to finish, the first edition with an image size of 13.85” H x 59.5” L, marks it as one of the largest copper plate etchings ever produced by hand process.
Other works
Nicholls has designed and proposed an Environmental Research Center and Tourist complex anchored by a tall tower on the banks of the Tay Firth near Dundee, Scotland and anchored by the V&A Museum. “The Spire” incorporates semi enclosed viewing platforms and global communications antenna.
