Oliver Nelson was born in Glasgow and began learning the violin at the age of six. He gained scholarships to both Canford School and the Royal Academy of Music. During his time at the Academy, Oliver studied the violin with Xue-Wei and conducting with Denise Ham and appeared as leader and soloist with the Academy String Orchestra.His achievements include winning the Academy Concerto Competition, the Winifred Small Violin Competition and the building of his concerto repertoire with Gli Amici della Musica, Dorset Youth Orchestra, Christchurch Sinfonia, and Da Vinci Ensemble.
He is now in high demand as a recitalist with Peter Croser, Nick Curror and Roy Stratford, and soloist with the Amaretti Ensemble, Dorset Chamber Orchestra, Dorking Philharmonia, Gorten Philharmonic Orchestra, High Peaks Symphony Orchestra, Hertford Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Beethoven Orchestra, Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra, Winchester Symphony Orchestra, and the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra. Oliver teaches the violin at Hindhead Music Centre in Surrey.