Neil graduated from Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2001 and during his final year won the International Paxman Horn Player of the Year Competition - the first time that a British Horn player had done so. During the same year, Neil was asked to join the UK’s premier brass quintet, Fine Arts Brass, staying with the quintet for three years. In 2009 Neil joined the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and in 2016 he was promoted to Principal Third Horn with the orchestra.

During a busy freelance career, Neil has worked with many of the country's finest orchestras and opera companies including the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Opera House, Hallé, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Opera North, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and many others. He has also recorded the soundtracks for films and TV programmes including Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Bourne Trilogy, Dr Who, His Dark Materials and has guested for West End musicals, including The Lion King, The Producers, Wicked, Spamalot and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Outside of playing Neil is a music examiner for Trinity College London and is a Professor of Horn at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.