Nickola (or Nicholas) de Grandmaison was born in Russia in 1892. He fought in the Russian army during WWI and spent time as a prisoner of war. Making his way to England following the war, he studied at the St. John's Wood Art School in London. Some time later he traveled to Paris and undertook further art studies there. He immigrated to Canada in 1923 and settled in Banff, Alberta. Wishing to discover more about his adopted country, de Grandmaison often traveled from his home in the mountains to the prairies. He found his subjects among the native people he sought out along the way. An example of the rapport he had with his subjects: he was the only artist able to persuade High Eagle, the last surviving warrior of the Custer massacre, to sit for him.

When asked why he preferred to paint native indians he commented, "They sit quietly and pay attention when you are drawing them" He also stated, "...to me it is a great honour...they have colour, character and history in their blood". This statement inspired the title of a book which records 64 pastel portraits painted between 1930 and 1960. History in their Blood, by Hugh Dempsey, was published in 1982. De Grandmaison passed away in 1978. His work is represented in the National Gallery of Canada and his honors include an associate membership in the Royal Canadian Academy and the Order of Canada.