Neil K Kempsell was born in the west coast town of Helensburgh,
Scotland on 26th August 1959. He followed his father's Naval
career about the country, spending time in Edinburgh, and Dartmouth.
Due to his father serving overseas in Australia, he boarded at
Queen Victoria School, Dunblane for 8 years and apart from
casual work on a farm, ran away to sea in 1976 at the tender age
of 17, to see the world.

After serving as a Navigating Officer for 7 years, he decide to
change tack, and went to Art College in Edinburgh. Four years of
creative endeavour resulted in a BA(hons) in Design, specialising
in Illustration and Animation.
During 1984 -1989, he also did a Post Graduate in Animation,
as well nurturing a fruitful and prolific freelance career,
drawing cartoons, illustrations and caricatures for The Scotsman,
The Sunday Times, Standard Life, Scottish Widows, Scottish Life,
Kwik Fit, to name but a few. He has also created two animated
commercials for TV. He now teaches full time at The College.

From 1990 onwards further freelance commision work blossomed
into "much in demand" live caricature performances at corporate
and private functions, many held at top Scottish Hotels.
Neil is now the leading “live” caricaturists working in Scotland,
and is invited to prestigious events throughout the Country.
In 1992 he also completed two short animated films in
collaboration with The Royal Botanical Gardens, on the subject
of Herbal Medicines.

In 2004/05 he produced and directed an animated film in
collaboration with the musician Martyn Bennett, exploring the
Highland clearance village of Hallaig on Raasay. The finished film
“Hallaig” has won two major awards in The USA in 2005, as well
as screenings at 12 other International Film festivals.
He is at present producing and directing another animated film
based on another Martyn Bennett composition in collaboration
with The City of Edinburgh Music School Orchestra. He also does
weekly caricatures and cartoons for “The Scotland on Sunday”
national Newspaper, and is planning a book of caricatures
focusing on famous Scottish Inventors.