Although born in Scotland, Neil was brought up in Totnes, South Devon, where he still lives. He began playing guitar at 9 years of age and his father’s love of jazz soon rubbed off on him. Neil grew up listening to BB King, The Average White Band and Tower Of Power as well as rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Hendrix. Gradually became more and more interested in Jazz music through exploring his dad’s record collection where he heard Charlie Parker, Billy Holiday and Lester Young to name a few.

In his teens he was a member of Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra Of Scotland. Neil started to play professionally in his late teens then went to Middlesex University to study Jazz where he took lessons with top guitar players  Stuart Hall and Phil Robson.

Since leaving university he has taught as a peripatetic guitar teacher in Secondary schools, as well as working as a professional musician.

Besides working with the Pete Allen Jazz Band, Neil performs regularly with many leading jazz musicians in the south west including Louise Parker, Al Swainger's Time Wasters, Harry Fulcher, Mike Isaacs funk consortium and Martin Dale.

His own trio plays a mixture of jazz standards and contemporary music and has played at many jazz clubs and festivals.

Neil enjoys playing jazz from Dixieland to contemporary styles. His main influences  are Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, Pat Martino, Larry Goldings Trio, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Jim Mullen, John Scofield, Bobby Wellins, John Richards, Jimmy Rainy, Art Tatum and Barney Kessel.