Arthur Thomas Nicholson was born in Windermere, Westmorland, England in 1881 and was articled to Robert Walker (1841?-1903) in Windermere from 1898 to 1902. He then worked as an assistant to W. H. Gregson in Southend-on-Sea, Essex in 1903-04; to Huon Arthur Matear (1856-1945) and Frank Lewis Worthington Simon (1863-1933) of Matear & Simon in Liverpool from 1903 to 1905; to Jonas James Bradshaw (1837-1912) and John Bradshw Gass (1855-1939) of Bradshaw & Gass in Bolton in 1905-06; to Gilbert Wilson Fraser (1873-1954) in Liverpool in 1907; and to Henry Littler (1865-1933) in Preston, Lancashire from 1907.
Nicholson subsequently practised in Preston and was employed as an architect by Lancashire County Council in Preston.
He was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1912, and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1936.
His address was given as 6 Victoria Road, Fulwood, Preston in 1911 and 1912; 16 Ribblesdale Place, Preston in 1912 and 1932. He died in Westcliff, Preston, Lancashire on 19 April 1965
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001