Baptised on 17 July 1741 in Lincoln, Nixon studied at the
Royal Academy Schools from March 1769. He first exhibited with the
Society of Artists (1765–1771), and from 1772 to 1805 was an annual contributor to the Royal Academy. Nixon was a leading miniaturist of his time, and held the appointments of limner to the Prince of Wales and miniature-painter to the Duchess of York; in 1778 he was elected
Associate of the Royal Academy. He resided in London for most of his professional career, but spent periods in Edinburgh and Newcastle. Nixon married Frances Elizabeth Carrington (1752–1823), daughter of the Reverend James Carrington, chancellor of the diocese of Exeter, in Devon on 30 October 1777. Around 1780 they had a son, James, and may have had other children. Nixon died in
Tiverton on 9 May 1812, aged 71. He was financially unsuccessful. ==Works==