Tim Brooke was born in Staincliffe, West Yorkshire.

He studied music at the University of Exeter, where his teachers included Anthony Powers.

Following graduation, he spent a year as musician-in-residence at the St Christopher School, Letchworth. This resulted in his incidental music to the multi-media work, Whale Nation, after Heathcote Williams's best-selling poem of the same name. The work was performed to much acclaim in an augmented version at the Glastonbury International Festival of Contemporary Dance in 1989.

His orchestral work, Long Screams. Dark Voices. Swift Weapons. was premiered in 1992.  Other works include Music for the Light Grinder (for 10-piece brass ensemble), starferrysong for string quartet (commissioned by Philip Sheppard and premiered at the Old Isleworth Festival), sad queen in royal palace (premiered at the Dartington International Summer School by The Composers Ensemble and Thomas Adès), Lullay Myn Lykyng for unaccompanied SATB choir, There Is No Rose for SATB choir and organ, and a number of occasional piano pieces.

Since 1990 he has worked as a music publisher.