Artist’s Bio
Lonnie Hutson is an artist, designer, wilderness guide and outfitter. As a college student at the University of Washington (Seattle), he first began exploring rivers in Washington state. After graduating he accepted an invitation from world-renowned environmentalist and founder of Grand Canyon Dories (GCD), Martin Litton, to join his Idaho crew.
For more than 40 years, Lonnie outfitted and guided whitewater rafting trips In Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and the Grand Canyon. During that time, he also earned an MFA in painting and drawing. In 1999, Lonnie left GCD and became the founding owner of Sundog Expeditions with his wife Gail Siegel. The company continues to provide fully-guided multi-day river adventures in Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias Park and Preserve, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Gates of the Arctic.
Lonnie now works at his studio/shop, near Deary, Idaho, making artwork that reflects his connection to wilderness and his concerns for a sustainable environment.
Lonnie has received grant support for his handmade paper relief monoprints, documenting native fish species of Idaho, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska from the Idaho Commission on the Arts, the American Fisheries Society and the University of Idaho Foundation. In 2017, he was awarded a visual arts fellowship from the Idaho Commission on the Arts.
photo Mark LaMoreaux
Lonnie holds a BA in Architecture from the University of Washington (Seattle), an MFA from the University of Idaho (Moscow) and is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance. He shares a rural home, which he designed and built, with his wife Gail and their menagerie of dogs and cats.