Martin was born in Kirkintilloch near Glasgow, and took up the French Horn aged 16 years old. His dad was a music teacher, who took Martin to a number of Scottish National Orchestra concerts, for which he says “I blame for my current predicament”.

Martin went on to study at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with David Flack and David McClenaghan, who was a former fifth horn with the CBSO! Before joining the CBSO, Martin enjoyed freelancing in Scotland and is now happily established as Fifth Horn in the orchestra “for as long as they'll have me!"