Born in London in 1919, Prunella Clough studied at the Chelsea School of Art. Her early career was defined by her depictions of post-war industrial Britain, capturing the stark reality of factories, docks, and the laborers within them. Over time, her practice evolved toward a more abstract language, moving away from direct representation to explore the formal qualities of light, surface, and industrial debris.

Clough's signature style involved the use of muted palettes and complex, layered textures, often incorporating found objects into her assemblages. Her work frequently examined the intersection between the man-made world and the natural environment, utilizing a process of reduction to distill complex scenes into essential, evocative forms.

Her contributions to British art were formally recognized through significant institutional support, including a major retrospective at Tate Britain. She remains a respected figure in 20th-century British modernism, celebrated for her persistent experimentation with medium and her ability to find aesthetic significance in the mundane aspects of industrial life.