Campbell was born in Hammersmith, London, where his parents were teachers, and was educated at Marlborough College and Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he studied Classics.

After rejecting a career as a Latin teacher as having 'dubious prospects', he went to study at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and the Guildhall.

[1] With Fretwork, he recorded 31 albums,[2] and also performed on film soundtracks including Coffee and Cigarettes and The Da Vinci Code.

Fretwork is known for its global touring and, as well as performances of early music, commissioning new compositions for viol consort.

He was a founding member of Jakob Lindberg's Dowland Consort, Philip Picket's Musicians of the Globe and, Charles Humphries's ensemble Kontrabande.