David Clarke was born in South West England. He studied at University College London and the Courtauld Institute of Art (where he gained his Ph.D. in 1983).  He has lived in Hong Kong since 1986, and is currently Professor in the Department of Fine Arts of the University of Hong Kong.  Clarke has published extensively in the field of art history, and is also active as a photographer.  His most recent books are: Reclaimed Land: Hong Kong in Transition (2002) and Hong Kong  x 24 x 365: A Year in the Life of a City (2007).