Biography
Billy Claire served as an Art Teacher at Fay School from 1981 to 2025, teaching students in grades one through nine. For 27 of those years, he led the department as chair. His artistic passions span painting, drawing, digital media, web design, and ceramics, and he has always taken great joy in sharing his love of art and creative expression with his students.

A devoted admirer of Impressionism, Billy is especially inspired by the works of Claude Monet and Suzanne Valadon. He has visited Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny on several occasions and explored major art museums in cities such as Paris, London, Rome, Amsterdam, and Florence. His latest works have been a series of paintings based on photographs from Monet's waterlily pond that he took on location.

Outside the classroom, Billy is an avid reader. Among his favorite authors are W. Somerset Maugham, Jorge Luis Borges, and his father-in-law, Nicholas Basbanes. He is also an accomplished guitarist, performing both solo and with local bands. In addition to playing, he enjoys restoring and building guitars and maintains an extensive collection of electric and acoustic guitars, mandolins, basses, and pedal steel guitars.

Billy's interests also include archaeology. He has participated in multiple archaeological expeditions in the UK and France and conducted research on medieval encaustic tile-making. Drawing on this knowledge, he has created his own tiles in Fay’s ceramics studio.

A dedicated advocate for arts education, Billy serves on the board of the Massachusetts Art Education Association as the Independent School Representative for the Commonwealth. He is also the organization’s former 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 1 - 9 Art Teacher 1981 - 2025
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 - 2018
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