Is my clematis dead?

Have a look at the base and see if there are any shoots coming up from the roots. Be patient, as you've had cold weather it may just be a bit slow. I hope it's OK. Keep looking. Several of my newer plants are dead on the last year's growth but have tiny shoots showing at ground level - Good luck!

DONT GIVE UP HOPE ,I THOUGHT THE SAME OF MY OWN CLEMMIE BUT JUST LAST WEEK I DISCOVERED 2 OR 3 LITTLE BRIGHT GREEN SHOOTS COMING THROUGH FROM THE BASE ,AND BELIEVE ME I THOUGHT THERE WAS NO CHANCE WITH IT LOOKING SO WOODY ,GIVE IT ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS ..WHATS TO LOSE ..GOOD LUCK

I once heard it said "never give up on a plant until mid-July". Some of my clematis haven't shown much sign of life yet either

yep would agree, mine are all looking a bit worse for wear but there are signs of new growth at the bottom, also you said that it is in a sunny spot, clematis like to have some shade at the base, i believe they have quite shallow roots - i always plant stuff around the base of mine to give a little protection or alternatively, if what ever you have at the base is currently leafless or underground you can use a pot or roof tile - just loosely propped up against it until they grow, and a good thick mulch will also help. they only need a little shade upto about a foot, and then plenty of sun on top. and it should be planted a little bit deeper in the ground than it was in the pot - this will stop clematis wilt, so check thoughs things too. if you can tic all of the above boxes, then paitience is a virtue! good luck.

When I moved to my new house last January, I discovered I'd inherited 2 apparently dead-as-a-doornail Clematis. My mum stopped me ripping them up and thank goodness she did as come Spring, I had the most fabulous display of flowers. This year again, they are apparently lifeless and crispy, but this time I know that they are just dormant. So patience, and I suspect you're in for a pleasant surprise!

The comment majeek made about the roots preferring to be in shade is to imitate how these things grow in the wild. They often grow in hedgerows and hoist themselves up into the sun on the back of something else.