About

I draw. My drawings comprise three major bodies of work:

Circles (2019 to present)

Autobiography (2010 to 2018)

Plants (2000 to 2016)

I’m interested in psychological ideas about the artist’s process, believing that drawing is both a conscious and unconscious act where internal and external worlds meet.

Circles

In 2019, I visited Iran to research art and architecture and drew concentric circles inspired by domes of mosques and archaeological sites. These were presented in a solo show ‘In Circles’ at Handel Street Projects London (2021) curated by Fedja Klikovak. A selection was included in a travelling drawings show and publication ‘Lines of Empathy’ led by artist Giulia Ricci, at Patrick Heide Gallery Contemporary London (2022) and at Close Ltd Somerset (2023) as well as ‘Essential Structures’ at Gerald Moore Gallery London. In 2023, I began exploring Neolithic sites and in 2024 made circle drawings in response with coloured wax on handmade papers. Their directness reflects my experience of visiting these sites. This May, I was artist in residence at Pier Arts Centre, Orkney Islands, inspired by the Neolithic sites.

Autobiography

After my father’s death in 2009, I explored my childhood in a series of drawings shown at Freud Museum, Charing Cross Hospital, Peltz Gallery Birkbeck London, & Model Gallery Leeds, Eleven Spitalfields Gallery London and University of Cambridge.  These will be published in ‘Drawing as Placemaking: Environment, History and Identity’ edited by Jill Journeaux and Simon Woolham (Bloomsbury 2025).

Plants

Fay was commissioned by The Prince’s Foundation to draw plants growing at Highgrove and in Transylvania for two florilegiums that were published in four limited facsimile editions. The Royal College of Physicians commissioned Fay to draw plants growing in its medicinal garden for a contemporary herbal to celebrate its 500^th year. These drawings were shown in exhibitions including Garden Museum London, Royal College of Physicians, National Gallery Romania, New York College Art & Design and Huntington Library Los Angeles.

Engagement

I teach, lecture and run workshops working with galleries, museums and universities including Royal Academy of Arts, Camberwell College of Art and Freud Museum. My interests involve arts and health; I sit on Imperial NHS Trust Arts Committee. In 2020, I co-founded Dust Architects, an online artists’ platform, and an artists’ peer group in 2016. Before art school, I worked in museums and galleries including tate and RA.