Talk and demonstration for Association of British Bonsai Artists (ABBA), organised by Dan Barton. Approx 2005/6
How did you get started? Back in 1989 when I was a young 20 year old, I was off work ill. Out of boredom, I was reading an issue of my mother’s Women's Own Magazine. One of the articles in this magazine completely captured my imagination and you can easily guess what the article was all about 'Bonsai'. My 21st birthday followed shortly after this and my mum bought me a indoor bonsai as a birthday present and that's how I got started.
How did you learn about bonsai? In the early days there was no internet, so my first main source of knowledge came from reading lots of books, until one day in the city of Newcastle where I worked as a graphic designer I came across a magazine called 'The Art Of Bonsai' this event was a life changer. In this magazine I read an article about a North East Bonsai nursery. Willowbog Bonsai just north of Hexham run by Peter Snart and his wife Jean. I soon found myself regularly attending workshops at Willowbog organised by Peter with visiting artists of the likes of Marco Invernizzi and Salvatore Liporace from Italy, Marc Noelanders from Belgium, Ryan Neal from America, our home grown Peter Warren and Kevin Willson and obviously Peter Snart who made all these workshops happen.
Working a large Pinus sylvestris from my own collection. 2019
Who was your teacher? For quite a number of years Willowbog Bonsai organised workshops where Marco Invernizzi came for two to three weeks at a time, two or three times in the year. I spent all of my holidays at Willowbog Bonsai working as Marco Invernizzi’s student.
What is the most important thing you learned from him? I worked mainly on pines and junipers with Marco and he taught me to have complete respect for the tree at all times. Do everything to the very best of your ability. For example, always to wire well so as not to damage the tree when applying and that the wire is fit for purpose. He showed me how to continually refine trees and to always focus on improving my skills and knowledge constantly. We never stop learning.
Helping Peter Warren on stage during a demo at Bonsai Live in Telford 2022
Do you belong to a bonsai club? Not at the moment, there are no clubs local to where I live unfortunately. In my early days I belonged to the North East Bonsai Society based at Washington where I was secretary for a while. Unfortunately it disbanded. Not sure of the date but it has to be at least 15 years ago. About 2005 I founded The British Shohin Association based at the Willowbog Nursery. Marco Invernizzi, Peter Warren and John Armitage all had a large input into the shows that were held annually at Willowbog organised by Peter and Jean Snart. A few years later I was taken up by other commitments and had to hand over the reins. I believe it went further South and to this day I’m not sure if it’s still going or not.
Your thoughts on bonsai or dreams? I have always liked passing on my knowledge and get great satisfaction from teaching at clubs or instructing at workshops, this has even taken me wider afield to America thanks to the California Bonsai Society. My passion and enthusiasm for bonsai is something I love to see emerging in the people I teach. I just want see the bonsai scene in the UK thriving.
Runner up at Expo Bonsai UK 2022 with my Pinus sylvestris Han kengai.
Do you consider bonsai an art form? Most definitely, I especially like to see trees and pots correctly matched and displayed well.
Why do you do bonsai? I attended art college for 4 years in my younger days and then worked as a graphic designer for 20 years. I have always loved horticulture and gardening, so bonsai seem to bring these two things together. I especially love working with pines and junipers, creating bonsai from raw material and progressing the tree on its journey with always an attention to detail in the refinement process. It’s incredibly satisfying.
Do you have a favourite tree species or size tree? You can probably guess, most definitely pine and junipers. I work and enjoy all sizes from shohin to huge imperial size.
Do you have a favourite bonsai? It changes all the time. My favourite tree at the moment is a Mugo Pine imported many years ago by Marco Invernizzi to Willowbog. It was in the collection of Peter Snart for a while before it ended up in my collection. I have enjoyed the journey with this tree refining it over the years.
My rock planting of Juniperus chinensis which also won runner up at Expo Bonsai UK 2022
Do you have a favourite Potter? Very difficult to say, I believe we are spoilt for choice here in the UK at the moment for good potters, but if you pushed me, I would say my favourite potters are David Jones, Andy Pearson, Gordon Duffett and the late great Derek Aspinall.
What mistakes have you made? Over the years I have probably made many mistakes, but early on my biggest mistakes were to do with watering, perhaps the most important and difficult subject to learn in bonsai. It’s ok to make mistakes as long as we learn from them.
Have you experienced bonsai abroad? Bonsai has taken me to many places abroad, teaching at workshops in America and Ireland. In Belgium I have shown trees at The Ginkgo Awards, The Noelanders Shows and The Trophy. And in Italy at the UBI. Unfortunately I have yet to travel to Japan but I am hoping to do so soon.
Willy Benz & Frieda Joris present Caz Scott with the BCI Award for her Shohin Composition - 2005 Ginkgo Awards
Can you recommend one or two bonsai books? I would recommend Peter Warren's book, the book by Willy Benz on kusamono and displaying bonsai and Michael Hagedorn’s book Bonsai Heresy. I would also recommend studying Japanese show books like Kokufu Ten and Gafu Ten for inspiration.
What is your best achievement? I have won numerous awards for my trees over the years, the most memorable was in 2005 at the Ginkgo Awards where I won the BCI Presidents Award for my shohin display. Ginkgo Award book number 5. It’s always a massive honour to win anything and it was just that when I won awards at The Telford Show ‘Bonsai Live’. The Expo Bonsai UK Show 22 and 23, The Newstead Shows, plus of course the awards at the British Shohin Shows.
The same Pinus sylvestris Han kengai. This time at Bonsai Live in Telford where it won Best Conifer..
Do you have any future ambitions or goals? As already stated, I hope to visit Japan shortly. I think that’s a must for all bonsai enthusiasts. I visited Bonsai Mirai when I went to the States in November 22, but I was there for a very short amount of time. Certainly not enough to take everything in. I think a trip back would be fantastic. I think my main goal is to keep learning and be the best I can.
Over the years what has been your favourite bonsai show? I don't have any particular favourite show, but all three of the Belgium shows over the years, Ginkgo Awards, Noelanders and The Trophy have been fantastic. Unfortunately I never made the Sailieu show in France which I believe was a brilliant show.
Do you have any other interests or hobbies? In my younger days I had a go with all sorts from bee keeping, motor biking and scuba diving. Bonsai was still very much an integral part. Now I still enjoy gardening and many aspects of art particularly portrait painting.