Initially a potter, Clive turned to painting full-time in 1984. The artist was born in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey and attended Twickenham and Kingston Schools of Art. He came to Cornwall at the age of 20 in 1960, and concentrated wholly upon the potters' arts in both porcelain and stoneware.

As a painter he has worked steadily between France (Provence) and Cornwall, where he lives near Helston. Buckman lists a partial exhibition record, the WCAA keeps an ongoing list of current exhibitions in London and elsewhere. In 1992 he was included in the Artists from Cornwall Exhibition at the RWA. 

The artist is listed as a member of NSA (2009).