 In 1997, Tay quit her job as an accounts executive to study art full-time at LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts, under the Georgette Chen Art Scholarship funded by the College.By the time Tay graduated in 1999, she had participated in several arts activities and festivals, such as the 2000 and 2004 Art Festival projects at Clifford Pier for "Tracking Time", as well as the exhibition, "Reconstruction of a City", at St James Power Station.In 1998, Tay received a Commendation Award at the Singapore Power Ltd Art Competition, and in 1999 and 2002, two Honorable Mentions at the Philip Morris Singapore Art Award.