Nicholas Stephens (b. 1939) is a British-born ceramic artist and sculptor associated with Northern California's experimental ceramics movement of the 1960s and 1970s. His work reflects the period's interest in humor, unconventional forms and the expansion of ceramics beyond traditional functional pottery. Stephens was part of a community of artists connected to UC Davis, where Robert Arneson and his colleagues helped establish a new direction for contemporary ceramic sculpture. His association with this influential artistic circle is documented in Nut Pot Bag or Clay Without Tears (1971), a collaborative artist's book featuring contributions by Arneson, Jim Melchert, David Gilhooly, Clayton Bailey, Maija Peeples-Bright and other artists. Produced in Davis, the publication captures the experimental spirit and irreverent humor that characterized the emerging Funk ceramics movement. Stephens' participation places him within an important network of artists who challenged established conventions and helped redefine the expressive possibilities of clay.