roy nichols

Born in 1928 at Plattsburgh Barracks, New York, Roy Nichols is a longtime Florida painter known for his rich connection to place—particularly the landscapes of Sarasota and the mountains of North Carolina. A graduate of Ringling School of Art, Nichols studied painting with Loran Wilford and sculpture with Leslie Posey, discovering his life’s work through the Gulf Coast’s unique light and character.

A former U.S. Army Airborne serviceman and West Point attendee, Nichols redirected his path after WWII through the GI Bill, dedicating his career to painting and teaching. Since 1956, he has instructed generations of artists at the Art League of Manatee County, the Art Center of Manatee, and as Artist-in-Residence and Director at the Fontana Summer School of Art in North Carolina from 1966 to 1995.

Roy and his wife Jossie, also a painter, divide their time between Sarasota and Fontana Dam, where they continue to find inspiration in the natural and architectural landscapes of both regions. With a style rooted in observation and deep regional loyalty, Nichols' work captures a sense of place that is both timeless and personal.