Nicholas trained at the prestigious Birmingham School of Jewellery and honed his skills in the workshops of local jewellers. He realised his dream of starting his own business in 1987, opening his first shop at 13 Northumberland Place, Bath, at the age of 24. Nicholas designed and made jewellery while his sister Corrinda ran the shop. In 1995, needing to expand, Nicholas moved the shop next door to the larger premises at 12 Northumberland Place, where the business still is today.