Neil was a Technical Education teacher before he retired from teaching to become a gardener, whilst working as a teacher he started together with Robert (Bert) Kerr an adult Musical Instrument making course which ran to almost capacity for 20 years, making all manner of musical instruments.

Having left teaching in 2011, and became a gardener, until the just before the first covid lockdown, when he heard the sad news that his former colleague Robert "Bert" Kerr had passed, and surprisingly later he was informed that he had inherited all his wood and violin making tools. As he was unable to leave his garden for that period, and had a shed full of materials and tools, Neil once again commenced his hobby of Violin making.

This book showcases his violins made since then. They are all his own work, and the photos are also all his own work.

The instruments he makes are wonderful creations he has made in his own time since retiring as a woodwork and musical instrument maker teacher in an Edinburgh school, each one has its roots in tradition, and diversifies from the norm to be something very special in its own right.

Each instrument is unique and different to what would be normal, in fact so radically different that each is a work of art in its own right.