McRae's paintings are about the struggle to reveal. Often his figures are taking off the same red garment which in itself becomes a social facade or the concept of who we are. The work is often autobiographical and some of the paintings have become very stylised featuring a re-occurring figure, caught with his pants down.

The work is also influenced by a series of portrait photographs McRae is creating. This series features youngish men a the point of ejaculation, the point of release. Sometimes the male figures in his painted works are captured at the moment.