Hans Iten was born in Zurich, in 1874. He studied at the school of Art, St. Gall, Switzerland. After working some years in Paris he came to Belfast in 1904 to take up an appointment as a damask designer with McCrum, Watson, and Mercer Ltd. linen manufacturers, Linen Hall Street, and moved into 18 South Parade where he lived for the rest of his life.

Being mainly a landscape and flower painter, he painted many pictures of Belvoir Park and of County Down and County Donegal.

He was a member of the Belfast Art Society, vice-president of the Ulster Arts Club and exhibited in Paris, Glasgow and Dublin. He also exhibited at the RHA from 1908.
He died in Swtzerland in 1930. His portrait, by Pierre Montezin, was presented to the Ulster Museum.