On leaving school, Ray joined a firm of Consulting Civil Engineers, subsequently moving on to Consulting Structural Engineers. Later, as an engineer within the architect’s department of a major southern building contractor specialising in timber frame construction, he moved away from engineering and became more involved with the overall design of buildings. This led Ray to work with the founding partners of Axiom Architects, whom he followed into the practice at its formation in 1986, becoming a partner in 1991.

When not glued to Southerham House, in winter he can be found anywhere in the country following Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club and in the summer, cruising the Thames on his boat from its mooring at Chertsey.