Steve Nicholls is a multi-award-winning producer and director of science and natural history documentaries, with nearly 30 years experience. He is passionate about communicating science to as wide an audience as possible, which he does through film and television as well as writing and lectures.
He holds a PhD in entomology from the University of Bristol and is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society. After his PhD, he worked as a research scientist for 3 years at the University of Bristol, dividing his time between the Zoology and Physics Departments before leaving to join the BBC’s Natural History Unit.
He spent 10 years producing films at the NHU, followed by 3 years at Partridge Films. Following that he set up Burning Gold Productions with Victoria Coules and together they ran this independent production company for nearly ten years.
Burning Gold was acquired by Barcud Derwen in 2008. In 2010 he joined Parthenon Entertainment which was subsequently acquired by BSkyB in 2012. In late 2013 he became Senior Executive Producer of a newly formed documentary production company, Warehouse 51 Productions
In 2015 he set up Hooded Crow Pictures Ltd, enabling him to operate as a freelance executive producer, producer and director while continuing his own writing and photography.
He is also an award-winning wildlife stills photographer.
In 2009 he wrote ‘Paradise Found’ for the University of Chicago Press, which collated a large series of documents from the 15th century onwards to produce a new view of the nature of North America at the time of European discovery. He has just completed a book on the natural history of Britain’s wildflowers.
He was a trustee of the Avon Wildlife Trust for 11 years, 8 of those as vice-chair. AWT is responsible for nature conservation across part of southwest England, running over 30 nature reserves as well as having a variety of educational outreach activities.
Awards include:
He holds a PhD in entomology from the University of Bristol and is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society. After his PhD, he worked as a research scientist for 3 years at the University of Bristol, dividing his time between the Zoology and Physics Departments before leaving to join the BBC’s Natural History Unit.
He spent 10 years producing films at the NHU, followed by 3 years at Partridge Films. Following that he set up Burning Gold Productions with Victoria Coules and together they ran this independent production company for nearly ten years.
Burning Gold was acquired by Barcud Derwen in 2008. In 2010 he joined Parthenon Entertainment which was subsequently acquired by BSkyB in 2012. In late 2013 he became Senior Executive Producer of a newly formed documentary production company, Warehouse 51 Productions
In 2015 he set up Hooded Crow Pictures Ltd, enabling him to operate as a freelance executive producer, producer and director while continuing his own writing and photography.
He is also an award-winning wildlife stills photographer.
In 2009 he wrote ‘Paradise Found’ for the University of Chicago Press, which collated a large series of documents from the 15th century onwards to produce a new view of the nature of North America at the time of European discovery. He has just completed a book on the natural history of Britain’s wildflowers.
He was a trustee of the Avon Wildlife Trust for 11 years, 8 of those as vice-chair. AWT is responsible for nature conservation across part of southwest England, running over 30 nature reserves as well as having a variety of educational outreach activities.
Awards include:
- Winner Best Earth Sciences Program, Jackson Hole Wildlife Festival 2009 Program,
- Winner at 29th Annual News and Documentary EMMY AWARDS for Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Cinematography –Nature Documentaries/Dramatic Recreations
- Winner ‘Golden Camera’ award for documentary at International Film and Video Festival, California, 2002, 2004 and 2009
- Winner of Best in Festival, Telenatura(Spain) 2004
- Winner, Gold World Medal at New York Festival, 2002
- ‘Silver Screen Award’ International Film and Video Festival, California 2006
- Winner Best Limited Series, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival 2007
- Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, Science Media Awards 2014 (Jackson, USA): Best Biological/Life Sciences Program, 2014
- New York Festivals® International TV & Film Awards 2014 (New York, USA): Silver World Medal (Category: Nature & Wildlife) 2014
- US International Film & Video Festival 2014 Gold Camera Award - (Category: Documentary Programs - Nature & Wildlife)