Neville was privileged to have Lloyd Rees and George Molnar as teachers in the Architecture program at Sydney University. As student, architect and educator Neville has carried a sketchbook. His sketches and watercolours are drawn on location at places of architectural significance. Watercolours are in corporate offices and private collections. In retirement Neville has led watercolour workshops on cruise ships with Cunard and Vantage Deluxe Cruises.
Examples of art are from locations in Europe, North America and Australia.
While in the final year in Architecture (1962), Neville's sketch of Kiama was chosen along with sketches of another five students that led to a series of 2.0m x 1.5m oil paintings. The competition was organized by Lloyd Rees in his Fine Arts course. The six paintings were lost for many decades but have been found and were restored in 2016. The opening of the exhibition of the six paintings was listed as a Lloyd Rees Legacy event.
Neville Clouten holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Sydney University, a Master of Architecture from the Ohio State University, and a PhD from Edinburgh University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and was awarded the American Institute of Architects AIA Michigan 2000 President's Award.
Neville worked as researcher and official guide for the Sydney Opera House project, and gained experience as an architect in Stockholm before his thirty-five year career as a university professor and dean. He taught at the University of Newcastle, Australia and was invited to be the inaugural professor and Chair of the Department of Architecture at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. From 1990 to 2004 he was Dean of the College of Architecture and Design, Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. He is now Dean Emeritus of Architecture and Design, and Professor Emeritus of Art and Architecture. Publications include many drawings and sixty articles in architecture, art, science and education journals.