Neil Ardley studied Chemistry at Bristol University. He became an editor and writer of children's non-fiction on the subjects of natural history, science, technology and music. Altogether, he wrote 101 books during his lifetime including Eyewitness Music and the best-selling, award-winning The Way Things Work with David Macaulay, which sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. Outside of publishing, Neil was one of the most celebrated and versatile composers in the British jazz scene.