Clive Burnell was born in Pencoed, South Wales in 1950. In 1973 he moved to East Devon where he still lives, after serving 31 years as a police officer Clive retired in December 2000.
Throughout his police career he devoted much of his spare time to painting and studying art. In 2003, as a result of favourable reviews and increased demand for his work, he became a full time artist
Clive Burnell works in oils and acrylics or a combination of both, his atmospheric, semi-abstract paintings are design to capture the 'spirit or essence of landscape.' In 2004 he won the runner-up prize in the ‘Spirit of Llyn’ art competition before taking the main prize in the same competition in 2006.
He has since exhibited his work at galleries throughout Wales and the West Country.