Nigel Abbey was born in London and grew up in Surrey before his family moved to Scotland when he was twelve. He attended Glasgow School of Art as an external student, studying drawing and painting. In 1968 he began a Foundation Art & Design Course at Carlisle College of Art, followed by studies at Hornsey College of Art in London, where he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Art and Graphic Design. For over forty years, Abbey worked as a Design Consultant in commercial art, collaborating with major companies including Shell, BMW, Alcan, and Glaxo, as well as numerous smaller businesses. In 2017 he shifted his focus to his own art projects, allowing greater freedom for creative expression. Since 2020 Nigel has created a series of over thirty artworks based on the lyrics of The Beatles songs. His daughter lives in Båstad in Sweden and he has created an original collection of artworks inspired by the town's diverse countryside and culture. Following The Beatles series and the links with Sweden, Nigel has created an ABBA series inspired by the band's songs and titles.