Raphaël Lonné was born in the Landes region of France. He left school at the age of twelve. He worked various jobs before becoming a postman.

His first drawings were created during a séance he participated in around 1950, after meeting a couple who introduced him to the practice. During this séance, which was never repeated, he felt he possessed the abilities of a "medium-drawer" and had the sensation that his hand was guided by spirits. From then on, he devoted himself to this graphic activity every evening until late.

With their particular finesse and delicacy, Raphaël Lonné's drawings evoke lace. They are composed of interlacing lines and informal textures from which emerge motifs such as imaginary architectures, landscapes, plant life, fantastical animals, or faces and silhouettes. Raphaël Lonné works with graphite, which he sometimes blends with his fingers, then with ballpoint pen, India ink or black felt-tip pen. In his later works, he incorporates color, using oil paint or gouache.