Nigel Eaton is a British hurdy-gurdy player, composer, pianist, and cellist from Lyndhurst, born on January 3, 1966. Eaton studied piano and cello before adopting the hurdy-gurdy in 1981 when his father, Christopher Eaton, began manufacturing them. He has performed as a member of groups including Blowzabella, Whirling Pope Joan, The Duellists, and Firestarters of Leiden. Eaton released the solo albums The Music of the Hurdy-Gurdy (1987), Pandemonium (2002), and Lymington Fair (2025). He collaborated with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant for the album No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded and their 1994–1996 tour. Eaton frequently recorded with Loreena McKennitt, appearing on The Mask and Mirror and Lost Souls. He also contributed to film scores for Kingdom of Heaven and Robin Hood. Outside of music, Eaton works as a furniture maker in South London.
