Fairclough started work at Kingston College of Art in 1938. Fairclough's work was exhibited in Poland, Finland and Sweden in 1939. He was called up for war service, joining the RAF. Fairclough was one of the ninety-seven artists that contributed to the Pilgrim Trust funded "Recording Britain" initiative. His contributions concentrated on buildings in locations near the Thames including Windsor, Henley, Ham and Petersham. In 1942 at RAF Medmenham he worked on models used for the Dambusters' raid on the Möhne Dam. He also served in India for a brief period at the end of the war.