Growing up in rural New England made it easy for Ray to fall in love with the outdoors. Birds in particular caught his attention from an early age. His grandmother fueled this interest through nature books and magazines. She also introduced Ray to comic books, where he was captivated by the idea of using lines, shapes, and colors to tell stories.

​

Ray's journey as an artist has been shaped by time in the US Navy, studies in art school and woodworking school, a career as a carpenter and cabinetmaker, and time in prototyping & manufacturing in the Southwest. Ray endeavors to capture the humor, whimsy, and wonder that he experiences in the world, and to express it in a way that is unique but relatable.