Norman Douglas Hutchinson

Norman Douglas Hutchinson (1932–2010) was a distinguished British portrait artist whose career spanned over five decades. Born in Kolkata, India, and raised in care at Dr. Graham's Homes in Kalimpong, Hutchinson was introduced to painting at an early age showing prodigious talent. With a multicultural upbringing that influenced his artistic style, he blended Western techniques with Eastern sensibilities.

Hutchinson's artistic journey began under the mentorship of Indian painter Shantiniketan. Recognised for his talent by the British expatriate community, he moved to England in the 1950s to study at the Slade School of Fine Art in London and became an acquaintance of the royal portrait painter Pietro Annigoni.

Over his long and cosmopolitan career, Hutchinson painted numerous well-known figures, including members of the British Royal Family. His notable works include portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, known for their detailed craftsmanship and adept use of light and shadow. His works have been widely exhibited and are held in private collections around the world and he was a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. 

Leaving London for rural France in the late 1980s, Hutchinson also painted landscapes and still lives with an increasingly surreal twist. He preferred to paint in tempera and gouache for the spontaneity of the medium, despite taking many weeks over a single work.  Hutchinson's last works were created in Marrakech.