Hughie Lyons began painting at the age of six. His uncle, a prominent artist at the time, recognized his talent and gave him his first set of oil paints. At the age of nine, Hughie and his older brother, Charles, a fine watercolor artist, began trapping and hunting. This led Hughie into a career as a taxidermist. He began his apprenticeship at the age of fourteen. Later, while still an apprentice at the Huff Studios, he met the soon to be famous wildlife artist, David Hagerbaumer. He was inspired by him to pursue an art career. After struggling for several years, Hughie gave up painting and traveled the world as an acrobat.