Landscape photography and fine art printing shop opens in Hamilton | Local News

Owner Nathan Wotkyns has been all over the western United States, always wanted to live in Montana, and fulfilled a dream with his landscape photography and fine art printing shop he just opened in Hamilton.

“I’ve wanted to move here since I was 13,” Wotkyns said. “It’s been a long time coming. My dad brought me to Montana to fish the Yellowstone, the Gallatin, and the Madison when I was 13 and I wanted to be here ever since.”

Born in Washington, he lived in southern Utah for thirty years when he realized life was short. He started taking photos of the fish he caught. Then he developed a unique style that shows the fragile beauty of nature. Through the years, his love of the outdoors evolved into a passion for sharing it with others through photography. After his schooling, he took his first option and created a photography gallery.

“In 2005, I opened that gallery in St. George at age 25,” Wotkyns said. “I had artist friends who were well known in that community and they had customers wanting different sizes of their artwork. I started taking photos of their work and making prints for them. It became a whole other business, different from what I thought I was going to do. It has become a great business and a needed service.”

About 10 years ago he and his wife started looking at Hamilton for a place to work and live. When the real estate prices rose they thought their dream of moving to Montana was gone. But when the Neeves building in downtown Hamilton went on the market they took the leap.

Wotkyns and his family moved here in January and he spent two months remodeling.

“Hamilton is a darling town and it is similar to where I grew up,” Wotkyns said. “Where I moved from was growing. Hamilton is growing and I tell everyone ‘I’m sorry but I’m one of those people coming in but hopefully I can offset that.’ I feel I can bring something good to the community for local artists and photographers.”

He uses state-of-the-art equipment and keeps the entire process in-house which allows him to keep prices competitive and business local.

“I do all the work and am a one-man show,” Wotkyns said. “My specialty is photographing the original and making the prints look like the original. I do the photographing and the printing. I do the whole process.”

He said digitizing art has been a boon for local artists.

“There were artists only doing original work but because they are now offering prints it has opened up a whole new market for them,” Wotkyns said. “I know some artists who have quit their day job to sell their prints online. It is cool to give artists another way to make money because it is hard to make a living selling art.”

At Wide Angle Fine Art Printing get artwork digitized and printed on fine art papers — canvas, watercolor, photographic papers, or traditional photo paper prints.

“I have two price points because not everyone wants to spend the money on a canvas but they still want to print it out,” Wotkyns said. “I do photo restoration so if people have old beat-up photos I can fix those up for them. I do it all.”

Wotkyns said he and his family are overwhelmed with gratitude for the community encouragement that helped make their dream a reality.

“Everyone has been so supportive, my realtor, my finance guy, the remodel guy, Michelle [Biggins] at Art Focus, everyone has been amazing,” he said. “We look forward to many wonderful years serving our new neighbors and enjoying all that this area has to offer.”

After living in Hamilton for two months and focusing on remodeling and opening a business, Wotkyns was finally able to fly fish the Bitterroot River.

“When I came back my wife said ‘you have a very big smile on your face,’” he said. “I just love it so much, it is so special. You’re outdoors and fish — trout in particular — live in the prettiest places. Fishing is like the icing on the cake. I love to fish, it’s my passion as is my photography. The surprise with each is you never know what you’re going to get.”

Wotkyns is encouraged by the work of the Bitterroot Land Trust and Open Lands Program to preserve the beauty and special community.

“As a business owner you do want some growth,” he said. “But it’s a balancing act. I love it here.”

He and his wife, an artistic crafter, participate in the Hamilton Farmers Market each Saturday.

“The farmers market is incredible,” Wotkyns said. “The setting, the big trees, the old building — it is just perfect.”

Explore the valley’s newest photography gallery and learn more about Wotkyns’ large-format photo printing services in person at 237 N. 2nd St. Hamilton, by phone at 406-363-7664, or online at www.wideangleprint.com or www.wideangleart.com. Wide Angle Fine Art Gallery & Printing is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

When not at the gallery, find Wotkyns on the river with a fly rod in his hand and a big smile on his face.