Born in 1938, Neil Libbert studied at art school in Manchester. He joined the staff of the Manchester Guardian, and moved to the paper's London office in 1961. He stayed with the Guardian until 1965 then worked under contract to The Sunday Times and the Illustrated London News until 1968 when he again became a freelance photographer. Libbert still regularly covers theatre photography for the Observer. His work has been exhibited at the National Theatre, Camden Arts Centre, and the Stables Gallery, New Mexico amongst others. Several of his works are held in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London.