Nick began writing and directing award-winning short films in 2003, culminating in his third short Shoe being Oscar-shortlisted at the 2011 Academy Awards. Nick’s debut feature The Drummer And The Keeper premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh 2017, where it won Best Irish First Feature. The Drummer And The Keeper went on to win 18 awards on the international film circuit, including Best Film at the Cleveland International Film Festival, Best Foreign Film at the Newport Beach International Film Festival and the Silver Award at the Emden-Norderney International Filmfest. It received 5 nominations at the 2018 IFTAs, including Best Screenplay for Nick’s script. Nick’s screenplay was also one of three nominees at the 2018 Irish Writers Guild ZeBBie Awards for Best Feature Film Script. In 2018 Nick set up The Story Works, an innovative independent TV writers room with the aim of generating new television drama with global potential. He was selected for the Screenskills LA Writers Room Placements in November 2019. Bedsitterland, a new feature film written and to be directed by Nick, was selected for the Berlinale Co-Production Market in February 2020 and is currently in development.
Nick originally qualified as solicitor, but gave up his legal career the same day to embark on a musical career, first fronting acclaimed Irish band The Fat Lady Sings and subsequently as a Choice Music Prize-nominated solo artist. In June 2022, he cycled from Ireland to the Glastonbury Festival, performing at venues en route and filming the journey for a future documentary about more sustainable approaches to live music.
In addition to his achievements in film and music, Nick is also one of Ireland’s most highly regarded advertising creatives. He has created award-winning campaigns for Aer Lingus, AIB, the Green Party, Walkers Crisps, Bord Gáis Energy, Toyota, the Irish Independent, and most notably Guinness for whom he wrote five major TV spots, including the Clio-winning Tom Crean, and Quarrel which introduced the viewing public to Michael Fassbender. He has directed TV spots and online films for Barry’s Tea, AIB, SSE Airtricity, the Irish Film Archive (featuring Saoirse Ronan), SVP and the Simon Communities.