Dan Neff was born and raised in Northeastern Minnesota. He took a Community Education class on torch-working glass and then began a two-year apprenticeship program learning the basics of the craft. After completing his apprenticeship, Dan began demonstrating his torch-work at festivals and fine art shows. After finishing his undergraduate studies at UMD, Dan traveled around the country to learn from world-renowned glass marble artists such as John Kobuki and Gateson Recko.