He qualified as an ARIBA in 1890 and set up an architectural practice in Bangor in 1892, where he remained until his death in 1940.

[2] Hughes was appointed diocesan surveyor and architect in 1900 and restored many churches in the Diocese of Bangor.

He was a member of the SPAB and only undertook the minimal amount of restoration work.

Hughes only appears to have been the architect for one new church,[3] St Cyngar, Borth-y-gest, Porthmadog.

He also contributed numerous articles to Archaeologia Cambrensis on architectural subjects.