Hugo's earliest memories are of walking hand in hand with his twin sister
Julia and his nanny Miss Lyons. They walked in the magical parks of
Kensington, London, most days, looking at the trees, the dogs, the old
ladies feeding the pigeons.
Sent to boarding school at the tender age of seven, Hugo spent much of his
spare time in the art department making figures from empty toilet rolls and
cornflake packets. Later he made a large three-legged horse from plaster of
Paris which stood in the garage of his home until it was run over by his
mother.
Although he won a painting prize at school, his artistic nature was not
encouraged. Eventually he prevailed upon his parents and went to art school
in London to study studio pottery. The success of this business brought
Hugo to New York in 1995.
In 2002, Hugo showed his early linocuts of underpants and battleships to
John Derian. They became friends and John encouraged Hugo to do larger
work.
He has had four shows at the legendary store since then and when he is not
working for John, Hugo works as an occasional illustrator for the New
Yorker.
Hugo lives in Brooklyn with his wife Elliot Puckette, the painter, and they
have two daughters, Isabella and Violet, and a canary.
