A native of Boise, Hugh started his ‘art career’ in 1970 as a freelance photographer, something he still practices today.  During his 35-year geology career based out of Phoenix, AZ, he had to do field drawings as part of his record keeping.  After moving to Eugene, OR, he took a sketching workshop in 2007 with his wife, Sandy, from Ken O’Connell, professor emeritus of art and retired head of Univ. Of Oregon’s Art Department - he has been hooked as a mostly sketchbook artist since.  Hugh works with water-based media and some permanent ink in his paintings, and can be found carrying a sketchbook, a set of colors, and some pens.  Almost all of his paintings and sketchbook work are plein aire or still-life.  He still uses his own photos to draw images in his hand-written journals that he doesn’t have time to do plein aire.  Since 2008, he has been a member of Eugene’s Top Drawers sketch group.  He joined PAPI in 2023.