Cleland is known for her photo-realist paintings and pencil drawings of suburban landscapes, and her abstract grid works.
[2] Cleland lives in Auckland with her husband and fellow photo-realistic artist Gary McMillan.
[1] Trained as a printmaker, Cleland specialised in burnished aquatint, an intaglio process similar to mezzotint.
[5] Her subjects were familiar but overlooked objects and areas, such as corners of rooms, light fittings and ceiling cornices.
[10] Cleland lists Latvian-born American artist Vija Celmins among her influences, famous for her accurately rendered images of nature.