Ray was born on April 25, 1938 in Memphis, Tennessee.
After graduating high school in 1957, he joined the Air Force in the hopes of becoming an official Air Force illustrator. Lacking the formal training that was required for such a position, Ray returned to civilian life and enjoyed a career as a Master Design Draftsman for NASA.
In 1980, after seeing a poorly designed aircraft rendering on a magazine cover, Ray decided that he could paint a more interesting aircraft picture, and so his journey as an aviation artist began.
Since then Ray has been painting & exhibiting his art at various airshows, fly-ins, and art expos around the nation. Over the years Ray's paintings have been reproduced as prints and used on book covers. He has even been invited to paint at the Air Command Staff College at Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama.
His personal collection of aviation art includes over 100 pieces signed by famous aviators such as Neil Armstrong, Jimmy Doolittle, Chuck Yeager, and many others. He also has a substantial collection of famous aviator signatures on canvas, which he likes to affix to the works that he renders for his clients, specializing in creating custom aviation art for those who desire a unique recreation of a battle scene featuring a famous aviator. His work is very exacting - he adds every nuance and detail of the aircraft. This has been his passion ever since his retirement, and we are pleased to offer Ray's fine work here at James Green Fine Art!
Ray & his wife Martha make their residence in Reagan, Tennessee.
