Rhoda Holmes Nicholls (1854–1930) was a highly accomplished British-American painter, celebrated for her mastery in watercolor and oils, as well as her contributions as a teacher, writer, and art critic. Born in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, she came to the United States in 1884 and quickly established herself as a leading figure in American art at the turn of the century. Nicholls was known for her diverse subjects, including figures, flowers, landscapes, and portraits. She won numerous awards, such as a gold medal at the Prize Fund Exhibition in New York and a bronze medal at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago for her watercolor “The Scarlet Letter.”

Nicholls’ early training began at the age of ten at South Kensington boarding school, followed by studies at the Royal Female School of Art in Bloomsbury, the Heatherley School of Fine Art, and the Slade School of Art. Her talent earned her the Queen’s Scholarship, presented by the Duke of Edinburgh, and recognition from Queen Victoria, who purchased one of her studies. She furthered her education in Italy and France, studying with Cammerano, Vertunni, and Carlandi in Rome, and became a member of the Societe Degli Acquarellisti.

Throughout her career, Nicholls maintained an active exhibition schedule in Europe and the United States, showing her work in Rome, Turin, Munich, London, and major American cities. She also taught extensively, holding classes in Hartford, Philadelphia, Poughkeepsie, Shinnecock, Gloucester, Kennebunkport, and Ogunquit, mentoring students who came from across North America and Canada.

In addition to her artistic practice, Nicholls contributed to the field as an art critic and editor, working with Art Interchange, Art Amateur, and Palette and Brush. She traveled widely for inspiration, painting throughout the Adirondacks, Venice, South Africa, and the American West, capturing diverse landscapes and cultural experiences. Her works, now rare, are noted for their technical skill, expressive range, and enduring aesthetic quality, securing her a prominent place among women artists of her era.