Gareth Steel was born and grew up in rural Southwest Scotland. As a result of a broken arm during a rugby game and the extra study time it imposed, he did better in his exams than he could possibly have expected. He was accepted into the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow in 1998 and graduated in 2003.

With occasional breaks for trips to the mountains and working abroad, he has worked in veterinary medicine ever since. Gareth currently works in South Wales and still enjoys all things outdoors. Never Work With Animals is his first book.