Originating from the Cotswolds Niall completed his degree in architecture at the University of Portsmouth, where he was nominated for the RIBA Presidents Medal Awards, before undertaking a placement year at the Bristol based architectural practice Alec French. He returned to Portsmouth in 2009 to read for a diploma in architecture, receiving the SPAB's Philip Webb Award for his first semester project, before completing a semester abroad at the Technical University in Vienna, studying architectural design and architecture theory with Will Alsop and Kari Jormakka respectively.
Amongst a broad appreciation and enthusiasm for architecture specific interests within the subject area include; architectural history and theory, building conservation and the theory concerning the application of new interventions within existing built contexts.