Born in Brownsville, Texas, Clare Kirkconnell spent a number of years in Mexico City before returning to Houston to finish high school. Developing an interest in the arts, she continued her education at Palomar College in San Marcos, California, a school well known for its art program. After college, Kirkconnell spent several years as a fashion model traveling the world from bases in New York and Paris. Concurrently, she studied acting and landed several film and television roles, including a three year run as the female lead in the highly acclaimed drama The Paper Chase. Never abandoning her interest in painting, Kirkconnell continued her studies at Santa Monica College and Otis Parsons School of Design. Her work has been consistently well received and can be found in many private collections, including the American Embassy in Kuwait. When not in the studio, Kirkconnell's time is divided between her husband and son, the family wine business; "Hollywood and Vine Cellars" and a non-profit group she co-founded called ArtSpring, which provides art education and enrichment to the public school children of the Napa Valley.