Clint was from London and became an apprentice fishmonger, clerk, house painter and book seller before becoming a portrait painter in watercolour and oil and perhaps more prominently, engraver. He was taught mezzotint etching by Edward Bell and later taught Thomas Lupton, one of the most prominent mezzotint artists himself.

Clint was made an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1821, but resigned his position 15 years later as he had not been promoted to full Academician status.