Mr Clayton studied medicine as an undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh, graduating MB ChB with Honours in 2000. He remained in Edinburgh for basic and higher specialist surgical surgical training in trauma and orthopaedics.

He undertook specialist fellowships in foot and ankle and lower limb surgery in Glasgow and Toronto in 2009. In February 2010 he completed his training and took up post in the NHS as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon. He now has over ten years of consultant level experience in NHS and private practice.