Ryan Nicholson was a Canadian makeup artist and director of independent horror films.​ Nicholson was a Canadian special effects makeup artist and filmmaker known for his work in horror cinema. He began his career in special effects, contributing to series like The X-Files. Nicholson later directed independent horror films such as Gutterballs (2008) and Hanger (2009), noted for their explicit content and practical effects. His contributions to genre filmmaking are recognized for their boldness and creativity.