Nicholas has worked extensively as a theatre musician at Shakespeare's Globe, (including twice as a deputy in an all-female company) and also for the  National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.  Recent concert and recording work includes performances for the Gabrieli Consort, I Fagiolini, Alamire and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.  As a serpent player he has performed with the Brodsky String Quartet, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and as a soloist with the BBC singers.

As well as The City Musick he is a member of the London Serpent Trio, and the City Waites and has played frequently for film and television.  He works as an instrument maker in wood and brass, and has repaired instruments for many public and private collections in the UK. He is curator of the musical instrument collection at SOAS, University of London, and was until recently the world’s only professional serpent leatherer.