Ruth Nicol is a Scottish artist who produces paintings and drawings of urban and rural scenes, suggesting movement and transience despite the absence of human activity.

Ruth Nicol studied Drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art and graduated in 2010. Prior to graduation she won the Andrew Grant Travel Award in 2007 and 2009. In 2011 she was awarded the Bessie Scott Award, Paisley Art Institute, in 2012 the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Art Exhibition Award and in 2013 the Tony and Maureen Toft Prize, at the Scottish Society of Artists Open Exhibition. She has exhibited regularly with galleries in Edinburgh and Glasgow since 2009 and with the Royal Scottish Academy, Paisley Art Institute, Scottish Society of Artists, and the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts. Nicol attained professional membership status of the Paisley Art Institute and Scottish Society of Artists in 2012.