Kate Nicholson was the only daughter of Ben and Winifred Nicholson, and was born at Bankshead, Brampton in Cumberland. She attended Bath Academy of Art, 1949-1954, after which she taught art. She had visited Cornwall with her parents, and in 1956 she settled in St. Ives. She worked there, at Bankshead and regularly visited Greece. As well as showing with the Penwith Society from 1956, she was included in the Arts Council tour Six Young Painters in 1961. She also had solo shows at Waddington, Marjorie Parr Gallery and LYC Museum and Art Gallery, Brampton.