Initially a journalist and later a successful playwright and author, Nel was botn in the then Transvaal in 1943. He studied art at the University of the Witwatersrand and later stayed at the Cité International des Arts in Paris for two years. He visited India a number of times. In 1982 he started exploring clay and ceramics. He has had many exhibitions, ranging from shows at his own studio to a retrospective at the Rand Afrikaans University in 1982 and a special 50th Anniversary show in 1993.

Collections:
Johannesburg Art Gallery, the Universities of Pretoria and RAU, as well as the National Museum and Arts Gallery, Gaborone.

Commissions:
murals in France and the Peace in Africa Fountain at Pretoria University.