Biography
Billy Claire has been an Art Teacher at Fay School since 1981. He teaches grades seven through nine and was formerly the department chair for twenty-seven years. His artistic interests include painting, drawing, digital media, web design, and ceramics. He enjoys sharing his love of art and art-making with his students.

Billy's favorite period of art is Impressionism especially the work of Claude Monet. He has visited Monet's home in Giverny several times as well as the museums of Paris, London, Rome, and Florence. Billy is an avid reader with W. Somerset Maugham, Jorge Luis Borges, and his father-in-law, Nicholas Basbanes as his favorite writers.

Billy is a performing guitarist and plays with several local bands as well as solo acoustic. He enjoys restoring and building guitars and has an extensive collection of guitars both electric and acoustic, mandolins, basses, and pedal steel.

In addition, Billy is interested in archaeology and has participated on several archaeological expeditions in the UK and France. He has done research on Medieval encaustic tile-making and has created his own tiles in Fay's ceramics studio.

Billy is a board member of the Massachusetts Art Education Association where he is the Independent School Representative for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as their webmaster.

Billy lives in Marlborough with his wife, Nicole, and their son, Sylvain.

Education
Marlborough High School
Massachusetts College of Art; B.F.A. Art Education
Lesley College; M.Ed. Creative Arts In Learning

Work
Fay School, Southborough MA
Art Department | Grade 3 - 9 Art Teacher 1981 - present
Art Department | Visual Art Coordinator 2013 - 2015
Art Department | Chair 1987 - 2013

Webmaster at JohnnyA.com | 2003 - present
Webmaster at Donahue's Driving School | 2004 - present
Webmaster at Massachusetts Art Education Association | 2014 - present
Webmaster at Fay School | 2002 - 2009
Webmaster at The Allens | 2000 - present
Webmaster at The Raw | 2011 - 2013

Guitar tech for Johnny A. | 2006 UK Tour as support for Joe Satriani
Guitar tech for Johnny A. | 2006 East Coast Tour as support for Eric Johnson

Moderator for Orange Amplifiers' forum | 2002 - present

Awards
2015 Massachusetts Middle School Art Educator of the Year
2013 Fay School Alumni Council Faculty Recognition Award
2002 Fay School Dedicated Service Award

Bands
The Allens
Sheryl Amour - disbanded
Angry Tony and the Homewreckers
Billy Claire: solo acoustic

Favorite Quotations
"Every child is an artist... the problem is how to remain an artist when he grows up." Pablo Picasso
"Or she."
"Or they..."
Billy