Cecil Howard Lay was born at the School House in Aldringham, Suffolk, England on 30 April 1885 and was the son of Aldophus Oscar Lay, the village schoolmaster. He was articled to John Shewell Corder (1857-1922) in Ipswich, Suffolk and also studied at the Architectural Association in London from 1907 to 1911 and in France and Belgium.

Lay qualified as an architect in 1911 and commenced independent practice in 1912. Most, if not all his work as an architect, was in Suffolk, mainly in the neighbourhood of Aldringham, where he designed a number of large private houses. His buildings usually incorporated traditional Suffolk features.

He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1912 and and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1925.

In addition to his activities as an architect, Lay was a painter and printmaker. He exhibited at the New English Art Club, Royal Academy and Royal Watercolour Society in London; Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts; Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin; Royal Cambrian Academy in Conwy, Wales; Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh; and at the Paris Salon. He was elected a member of the Ipswich Art Club in 1925 and in the 1930s was a member of the Sole Bay Group in Southwold with whom he also exhibited.

Lay was the author of several volumes of poetry. In 1932 he married the painter and illustrator Joan Jessie Chadburn (1900-1986). Following their marriage lay converted two cottages in Aldringham into one as their home.

Lay designed the village sign at Biddenden, Kent. The artist and designer Frank Brangwyn (1867-1956) was a close friend.

Lay died in Ipswich on 6 February 1956. A retrospective exhibition of his work was held at the Parkin Gallery, London in 1978.

_{Text source: Art History Research net (AHR net)}