Joseph Nash was born in Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire. He was the eldest son of Okey Nash, who took holy orders and became the proprietor of the Manor House School, North End, Croydon where Nash was educated, and displayed early talent at drawing.

Around 1827 Nash entered the architect’s office of Augustus Charles Pugin, at 105 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London, to learn the art of architectural drawing. Two years later, he and his fellow apprentices accompanied Pugin on a trip to France toproduce drawings for Paris and its Environs (1830). He developed his skill as a lithographer, and also prepared Pugin’s drawings for Views Illustrative of the Examples of Gothic Architecture (1830).