Hill originally worked freelance for local and national newspapers. In the 1970s he joined Trent Polytechnic, Nottingham to teach in photography. It was here he became head of the Trent / Derby Creative Photography course. In 1976, he established The Photographer’s Place with his wife.

As well as exhibiting, Hill has published a number of books on the subject of photography. In 1994 he was awarded an MBE. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, and the Hasselblad Foundation.