Road to Erie; Memories by Leonard Hutchinson

Born in Manchester, England, he studied at the Polchester School under H. Sabino, A.R.I.B.A. and came to Canada in 1912 and settled in Hamilton where he studied under John S. Gordon at the Hamilton School of Art. He was a consultant for a leading paint firm in Toronto. In his fine art pursuits was active with the Canadian Society of Graphic Art and distinguished himself for his fine woodblock colour prints.

The Richmond Hill Highlander noted his work as follows, “His prints are especially fine, and have been acquired by the National Gallery and the New York Public Library. The prints are clear, colours clean, and many, translucent. These are views of early landscapes, marines, early Canadian landmarks and scenes of Hamilton. Some of his prints have required up to 30 different prints to complete them. All are printed on Japanese rice paper and many are beautifully mounted and framed.”

Hutchinson was a member of the Ontario Society of Artists as well, and is known also for his fine paintings. He was winner of the 1968 Centennial Medal for his contribution to Canadian Art. Earlier in his career he exhibited his prints with M.K. Aykroyd and W.F.G. Godfrey at James Wilson & Company in Ottawa. He lived in Hamilton, Ontario.

Source: "A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, Volume II”, compiled by Colin S. MacDonald, Canadian Paperbacks Publishing Ltd, Ottawa, 1979