Born in Middleton, Lancashire, the son of William H. Clause and his wife Minna, Clause was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, and at the Slade School of Art in London, where he was taught by Professors Frederick Brown and Henry Tonks.
Seven of his drawings were acquired by the Contemporary Art Society and several by the War Artists' Advisory Committee for the National Gallery.
He is represented by three works in Manchester, two in Bradford, one in Royal Leamington Spa and one in Carlisle.
At the time of his death in 1946, he was living at 16, New End Square, Hampstead, London.
[1] 6 artworks by or after William Lionel Clause at the Art UK site