Born and educated in Edinburgh, Hutchison began his career as an engraver of seals but, with a love of painting, studied art at the Board of Manufactures School. Influenced by the Dutch School, and John and Thomas Faed (1819-1902 and 1826-1900 respectively), Hutchison's specialty was painting children and genre scenes in Scottish landscapes, with a distinctive style involving broad brushstrokes and soft, mute colours. A prolific artist, Hutchison exhibited widely around Britain. Hutchison was elected to the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour in 1895, an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1901 and a Member in 1911. He was awarded a medal for his work in 1903.