Nicholas Coley (b. 1971) was born in Connecticut and raised in Muir Beach, California. After high school, he traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe before studying at the Beaux-Arts and a private painting school in southern France. He also spent a year living and studying at a Buddhist monastery near Bordeaux.

Following his studies, Coley traveled through Europe, Russia, and China, supporting himself in part through the sale of his paintings. For nearly two decades, he has worked as a full-time artist, building a career sustained entirely through his painting practice. He currently lives and works with his family, continuing a daily studio practice that reflects a lifelong interest in creativity, spirituality, and the human experience.