Artist:  Neville Clouten

Born at Toronto, NSW, Neville Clouten received the Bachelor of Architecture degree from Sydney University.  Classes with Lloyd Rees inspired him to travel and record impressions in sketches and watercolours.  With his wife Norene he travelled in southern and eastern Europe, and worked as an architect in Stockholm.  Research at the Ohio State University for the Master of Architecture degree led on to Edinburgh University where he received a Ph.D. in research that combined architecture, science and social sciences in a focus on spatial perception and creativity. 

Neville has taught freehand drawing and design at several universities during his 35-year career as university professor and dean.  From 1969-1980 he taught at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Newcastle, and was then invited to be Inaugural Professor and Chair of a new program in architecture at Andrews University, Michigan.  From 1990-2004 he was dean of architecture at Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan and is now Dean Emeritus of Architecture and Design and Professor Emeritus of Art and Architecture. 

Neville Clouten is a member of several professional societies, and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.  As architect and educator, he was awarded the American Institute of Architects AIA Michigan 2000 President's Award.  He is Past President of Tau Sigma Delta, the international honor society for architecture, art and landscape architecture.  During his tenure as Grand Chapter Secretary, Vice President and President, he introduced poster competitions for art and architecture students.  Publications include many drawings and sixty articles in architecture, art, science and education journals. 

Neville has always carried a sketchbook to record landscapes, harbours and historic places.  The passion at the time of sketching combines with later reflection on the experience.  In retirement, Neville lives at Wangi Wangi, NSW and continues to enjoy watercolour painting, creative writing and travel.  Some experiences are recorded in his book Academic Lite: Treasures of Creativity and Reflection from Life as a University Professor.   He shares his expertise in workshops on ocean cruises and European river cruises.  In September 2003, he presented watercolour workshops on the Cunard Line Queen Elizabeth 2 from London to New York as part of the Festival of the Arts program, and from 2004 on the Queen Mary 2.  He has led tours for artists and beginners, teaching watercolour workshops on the Volga, Yangtze, Rhine and Danube Rivers.  In 2009, he is artist-in-residence on Vantage Deluxe World Travel European river cruises.

Neville Clouten has regularly exhibited watercolours in juried art shows.   His watercolours are in corporate offices and private collections. 

Artist Statement

The opportunities to visit places of human interest and of art or architectural significance continue to bring fresh inspiration to me as artist.  Watercolours are generally of landscape themes and subjects from harbour towns and buildings, and record impressions from Nature and the built environment with expressions of reflective thought.

I am excited by the location I have selected to paint, and I complete the pencil or pen drawing while experiencing passion for the subject.  I let this passion guide the first washes, and I am exhilarated by the way the particular paper, temperature and humidity conditions affect the luminosity, textures and sparkle of the developing watercolour. 

I see the combination of many factors as a conversation with the media.  The passion for the subject begins to merge with aspects of reflection as nuances of colour and fluidity lead me to guide the uses of water and the types of brush strokes.  Human interest is included by the addition of people who are often seen in action.  If there is an opportunity to include wry humor as part of the action I will add this in ways that may be seen by a viewer in closer observation.