Neil is an accordionist, pianist and folksinger from Stirling, in the central belt of Scotland. He performs as a classical soloist and ensemble musician, within the Scottish traditional music scene, and as a collaborator with other artforms. In 2021 he completed his BMus (Honours) at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) in Glasgow, where he studied classical accordion with Djordje Gajic. ​

In his work in classical music, Neil is passionate about programming works by under-represented and neglected composer (in particular Scottish classical and contemporary composers) and about promoting the accordion within classical performance and education settings. He regularly works with composers to introduce them to the instrument, and to premiere new works. Since 2021 he has run a project with the composition and accordion departments of the RCS to encourage collaboration and performance opportunities for students. 

Before his introduction to the classical accordion, Neil grew up in a family surrounded by a variety of musical influences, the strongest of which was Scottish traditional music. From his parents he has inherited a particular love of folk-songs: ballads,  bairnsangs, protest songs, and comic verse. As a singer Neil is interested in the power of song to create connections between people, place, the past and the present. He sings in English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic, which he learnt in Primary School. 

The other major element in Neil's work is inter-disciplinary collaborations with other artforms, such as storytelling, art, dance and BSL. He has worked as musical director on several storytelling shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, and has toured across Scotland and Scandinavia.