Snelling created more than 70 residential and commercial buildings in Sydney and Noumea. He was born in England, moved to New Zealand (1924), practised design and film promotions in Wanganui and Wellington (1935-1940), worked in Los Angeles (1937-38 and 1947-48), became a leading Sydney architect (registered 1952) and designer (1940-1972) and retired to Hawaii (1977).