Neil Miners was born in Redruth. His family moved to Falmouth when he was a teenager. He studied at Falmouth School of Art under Jack Chalker, remaining in the town until 2007, when he moved to Truro.

Neil worked at the Harbour Masters Office in Falmouth until he turned to painting fulltime. A painter of seascapes, one of his favourite subjects was working boats.

His second wife, Wendy, was a steadfast supporter of his artistic career. He never fully recovered from her death in 2002, when his health began to deteriorate.

Miners was well respected for his extensive knowledge of Cornish artists.