Nick Nairn was born on 12 January 1959 in Stirling, Scotland, and grew up in the nearby village of Port of Menteith. He attended McLaren High School in Callander before joining the Merchant Navy at 17, later studying at Glasgow College of Nautical Studies and serving as a navigator until 1983.

With no formal culinary training, Nairn opened his first restaurant, Braeval, near Aberfoyle in 1986, winning a Michelin star in 1991 and becoming one of Scotland’s youngest chefs to do so.

He became a household name through BBC’s Ready Steady Cook from 1995, and co-hosted The Great Food Guys with Dougie Vipond, showcasing Scottish food and produce on the BBC. He also fronted Wild Harvest, Island Harvest, and BBC Scotland’s Landward (2007–2009), and competed on Great British Menu.

He now lives in Bridge of Allan and runs cook schools and restaurants across Stirlingshire and Aberdeen with his wife Julia.