He studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Gwendolen Mason, whom he later succeeded as Professor of Harp from 1959 to 1989. He joined the London Symphony Orchestra in 1961 and became principal harpist. In 2018 he recalled: “I did two Royal Variety Performances in the pit at the London Palladium involving Bob Hope and many other top stars. I also joined the Wally Stott Orchestra and we played on the original "Goon Shows" starring Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers and, for a short time, Michael Bentine... In fact, I’m a bit embarrassed that each year I still get a royalty cheque for around £100 from the BBC from playing on the Goon Show as it’s still repeated on radio so often today which is amazing." He was a founding member of the Melos Ensemble and also formed the Osian Ellis Harp Ensemble.