Protasov, Nikolay G. was born in Siberia. After completing his studies at the Irkutsk art College (1959), traveled the country, lived for five years in Murmansk, going out with fishermen at sea. In 1960-e years in Irkutsk was a member of the Creative Association for youth (FACT), which included the playwright Alexander Vampilov, writers Valentin Rasputin and Vyacheslav Shugaev, poet Anatoly Prelovsky, artists Yuriy Silvestrov and Mykola Protasov.
Since 1973 has lived and worked in Moscow. Since 1977 – member of Union of artists of Russia, participant of regional, Republican, all-Union and foreign exhibitions in USA, Italy, Germany. Solo exhibitions were held in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Saransk, Moscow, Omsk, Chita, Abakan, Tobolsk (1977-2004). The works of Nikolai Gerasimovich Protasov are kept in museums of Irkutsk, Chita, Omsk, Saransk, Moscow, Abakan, Kyzyl, in private collections in Italy, Spain, USA, Germany.
N. G.Protasov is the artist of diverse talents. He is equally successfully worked in painting, graphics, ceramics, batik. Since 1980-ies, a lot of time devoted to book graphics: illustrated the Eastern-Slavic mythology, "the Word about Igor's regiment", the Mordovian epos, tales of the Turkic peoples of Siberia, foreign classics, works of contemporary poets and prose writers, did a few cycles on the gospel. His work was distinguished by his nobility of colors, the beauty and finesse of the images, they are metaphorical, they have a lot of poetry and music.