How did you get started? I have always had an interest in nature, and I especially love the beauty of big majestic trees in the countryside. As a keen gardener I regularly attend local flower shows and I recall that my first interest in the hobby was down to a specific event at Ayr flower show in August 2002. At the time Ayr flower show was a major event in the Scottish calendar and was supported by several specialist bonsai traders. There was also a very large display by the Ayrshire Bonsai Group. During my visit to the show I was fascinated by, and kept returning to the bonsai displays. Eventually, my wife became exasperated with the amount of time I was spending looking at the trees for sale and suggested that I should buy one of them. That was the start of the slippery slope and I very quickly became hooked. Whilst attending the show I had also spent quite a bit of time speaking with the members of the Ayrshire Bonsai Group, whom I found the be very friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. At the time I was an established breeder of exhibition budgerigars, and so I knew that the best way to learn about the practical side of any hobby was to both meet with and learn from other local enthusiasts. I therefore joined the local Bonsai club and have been a member ever since.
How did you learn about bonsai ? When I began in the hobby the Internet was relatively new and not the extensive source of information that it is today. There was no YouTube, even videos were a novelty. I therefore obtained copies of every Bonsai book or magazine that I could find and attended lectures, demonstrations, and workshops, with the great names of the day. People such as Marco Invernizzi, Mark Noelanders, Ryan Neil, John Hanby and Steve Tolley to name but a few. However, whilst these one-off events were helpful, the most benefit came from the “shoulder to shoulder” learning that comes from working with both the same tutor and the same trees over a prolonged period. I was very fortunate that when I joined the Ayrshire Bonsai Group I was mixing with some of the most knowledgeable and experienced people in the hobby. Their trees were amongst the best in Scotland and their friendly supportive enthusiasm quickly rubbed off on me. People such as Joe Baillie, who was an expert in Maples; Ian McDougall who is renowned for his Scots pines, and Jim Rafferty who was a great all round horticulturist. I should also give credit to Peter Snart at Willowbog Bonsai nursery for hosting his monthly “Bonsai Chat”. This was a regular opportunity to meet with other bonsai enthusiasts from all over the North of England and Southern Scotland. It was a 3 hour drive from my home to Willowbog, but it was definitely worth it. The format was very informal, with people either bringing their trees to work on or to get advice and opinion from others more knowledgeable than themselves. Other people were doing the same and the informal format and supportive environment coupled with the opportunity to buy the materials and accessories we need for the hobby was a big attraction. I appreciated the fact that we could buy everything from raw starter material to finished specimens, and of course the opportunity to view the Willowbog collection was always welcome.
This Japanese larch was displayed at the SBA show in 2023
Do you belong to a Bonsai Club? From the outset I have been a member of both the Scottish Bonsai Association and the Ayrshire Bonsai Group. I have always been a strong advocate of belonging to a club, and I do what I can to support their activities. I have acted both as the Treasurer of the SBA and as Convener of the Ayrshire Group. Although a recent change in employment has taken me away from these administrative roles, I try to support both organisations where I can, and who knows – as retirement gets closer, perhaps I will get more involved in the future. Do you consider Bonsai an art form? Certainly - I usually describe the hobby as a blend of art and horticulture. Replicating a big mature tree in miniature is mostly about horticultural skills, but creating abstract designs with lots of carving and deadwood is definitely an art.
Do you have a favourite species or size? I have quite an eclectic mix of tree species. Mostly Scots Pines, Junipers and Cedars. There are a few Yews, Larch, Hawthorns and Maples to mention just a few. There has been no desire to specialise, but I have found that these are the varieties that survive in my environment. I do not have a greenhouse or polytunnel, and being away at work throughout the week means that my trees need to be reasonably robust and self-sufficient. Most of my trees would be considered medium to large scale, and I don’t have any Shohin or Mame sized trees. I have struggled to keep Japanese Pines alive and although these may be regarded as iconic standard bonsai varieties – I now advise newcomers in my part of the world to avoid them and to encourage the use of native species or those available in the local garden centre.
A couple of substantial Yew trees, both with extensive carving, the one on the left is still in development, the one on the right being displayed at Bonsai Live.
Do you have a favourite bonsai? In terms of my own collection, my favourite tree varies from time to time dependent upon what stage they are at and how presentable they are. The image of every tree constantly evolves, and occasionally the foliage becomes too dense and needs to be thinned out. Perhaps they lose a branch or two and need to be restyled. Whatever the reason for undertaking a significant adjustment to the tree, they usually need a few years to bring them back to their best. Effectively a period of redevelopment. I regularly rearrange the position of my trees on the benches in my garden and I love showing them off to visitors, so perhaps I do put the favoured trees in the most prominent position. Whenever I attend a show, I like to identify the tree that I would like to take home and, perhaps surprisingly, it isn’t always the tree that has been given the top award. Of course, deciding what is best is very subjective. Just like judging any form of artwork, you can recognise the technical skill and attention to detail, but beyond that you are judging style and aesthetics. At the end of the day these are all a matter of opinion, but I do love debating the merits of particular trees with friends and enthusiasts.
A couple of Blue Cedars developed from garden centre material.
Do you have a favourite potter? No - The most important consideration for me is to find a pot that compliments the tree. It doesn’t matter whether that is a mass produced pot from China or a hand made ceramic from one of the big names. Having said that, although it would be wrong to single out a favourite potter, many of my pots have been made by Walsall Ceramics, China Mist, and Ian Baillie. More recently I have been attracted to the pots made by Barry Sommerville. Although I think most people can instinctively recognise when a tree is in an unsuitable pot. It can be very difficult to describe the characteristics of what makes a good pot, and why this one, or that one, is right for a particular tree. What appeals to one person, and their perception of beauty or harmony, will vary from person to person and so if you are happy with the tree and pot combination that’s good enough for me. I do like the traditional approach of combining a display table, with an appropriate pot and the tree, and I can relate to the idea of creating a balanced harmonious composition made up of these three elements. However, I have never understood the need for scrolls or accent plants, and I’m not a fan of the European trend to introduce other elements into the display.
What mistakes have you made? I think I must have made all of the fundamental mistakes that it is possible to make in this hobby. Certainly, to many to recount in a single article. However, my most common mistake was trying to do too much to a tree at the one time. We do need to treat our trees with respect – give them a chance to recover and they will reward you in so many ways. Please be patient. In fact if you don’t have patience I suggest you find another hobby !
A Siberian Elm, with a fantastic nebari, purchased as raw material in 2010,
Have you experienced bonsai abroad? Yes – whatever activities I’m involved with I think it's important to appreciate what other people are doing. I refer to this as “looking over the fence”. In business we may call it bench marking. Whatever you call it, I think it’s important to look beyond your close circle of friends and competitors to see what the wider world is up to, and to see what we can learn from them. In my early years in the hobby I attended the Ginko shows organised by Danny Use in Belgium. These trips were undertaken by a small group of friends from the Ayrshire Group, who travelled in a pick-up truck and toured many of the specialist Bonsai nurseries in Belgium & Germany. One of our Group – Pete Hadden, had served in the RAF in Germany and so knew his way around many of the nurseries, tucked away in unknown locations. We also went to the Noelanders show in Genk, and again combined this with visits to specialist nurseries along the way. Somehow, the pick-up always seemed to be full of new trees on the return journey! These were great adventures, producing many stories not to be repeated here, but suffice to say that the shows and the quality of trees available were simply eye opening. For some people based in Scotland, the term “Bonsai Abroad” could include bonsai events in England and Wales. For me, there have been many trips south of the border including amongst many others, visits to the shows at Newstead and Bury, and the traders shows in Sheffield and Doncaster. All have helped my understanding of what other bonsai enthusiasts are producing and I would encourage anyone to enhance their knowledge by “looking over the fence”.
Can you recommend one or two bonsai books? I’m not sure that recommending books is the best advice that can be given nowadays. There is so much information on YouTube and it's much easier to consume. However, a word of caution. Any knowledge gathered from books, or the internet, has to be taken with a degree of caution. The majority of authors will share knowledge based upon their own experience of working with trees in their local environment. Each of us has a unique micro climate in our garden and thus the advice offered from people at the opposite end of the country, will not always translate into sound advice for the trees in your microclimate.
This is a Berberis, collected from a demolition site in 2011
What advice would you offer to newcomers? Where do I start? There is so much to learn. I think the most important thing is to find other people in your local area who share your interest. No matter what level you are at, we can all benefit from sharing knowledge and experience. Attend as many exhibitions as you can and learn from the people displaying the style of trees that you like. Purchase tree species that will thrive in your local area. Collect urban Yamadori and learn how to maintain them in a small pot. Be realistic about what you can achieve, and the time and commitment that is involved. Find a mentor in your area, meet them on a regular basis, and ask them to work with you on the same trees throughout the year. Don’t spend a fortune on your trees and try to get a balance between the number of trees that you have “in development” and those that you are pleased to show to friends and family. If you have too many “Sticks in Pots“ you will quickly become disillusioned. Expect some of your trees to die. We all lose trees from time to time no matter how long we have been in the hobby. Be pragmatic and treat it as a part of the learning experience. Enjoy the challenges and opportunities that Bonsai will bring. Strive to keep your trees healthy, develop them to the best of your ability, but most importantly, enjoy the fellowship of other enthusiasts.
What is your favourite bonsai show? In the last few years my job in London has allowed me easy access to both the Heathrow Bonsai show and the Bonsai Expo held in Crawley. The two events are quite different but equally impressive. The Heathrow show is essentially a club event at which over 30 separate clubs from across the South of England each create a display comprising their member's trees. Although the organisers do not select individual trees, the quality is very high and the number of traders supporting the event is mind blowing. They will soon be looking for a bigger venue. The Bonsai Expo held in Crawley was conceived to promote the standard of bonsai display and to match the quality of the major shows in Europe. Individual trees are offered for selection by their owners and the organisers decide which trees are to be displayed. This ensures that the quality of the trees and their presentation is exceptional. The scale and quality of the show also attracts many traders, and the event is now one of the best in the UK. Wherever you live in the UK, this event should be a must for all bonsai enthusiasts, and I would encourage everyone to ink it into their diaries. Finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention the annual show held by the Scottish Bonsai Association. Principally organised by the stalwarts of the Ayrshire Bonsai Group, the show continues to promote better quality trees; improvements in the standard of display; to increase the number of participants, and as a result, to attract participants from across the North of England. With regular visitors from Northern Ireland, the show continues to go from strength to strength and is a permanent fixture in my diary. Do you wish to share your opinion on any other aspect of the hobby? I do become disappointed at how many people attend bonsai exhibitions but do not support them by entering a tree or two. Organising a major show is a significant undertaking, requiring a dedicated team who put in a tremendous amount of work and sometimes taking a significant financial risk. They should be applauded for their commitment and the contribution they make to the hobby. I believe that the more established bonsai practitioners have a duty to support them by entering trees. Without trees on the benches there will be no shows and the hobby will be much poorer without them. I also believe we need to support those individuals who establish small businesses supplying trees, pots, wire etc to the hobby. They are an integral part of the hobby and should be supported as best we can. Without them it would be very difficult to acquire the specialist items that we need.
Do you have any other interests or hobbies? I have always had a variety of hobbies and interests throughout my life. For many years I was a champion breeder of Exhibition Budgerigars, both showing at, and judging exhibitions throughout the UK and Ireland. Living in Scotland it’s hard to avoid the game of golf, and I enjoyed playing with friends for many years. However, I eventually realised that the game and I had come to a mutual understanding that I would never be capable of doing anything other than taking my clubs for a walk in a nice environment. As a consequence my golf clubs have enjoyed their retirement, residing under the stairs and awaiting a call to action. In recent years my interest in creating bonsai has led me into wood carving. This came about following a workshop with Steve Tolley, when I was searching the internet to find some suitable tools for carving the deadwood on my bonsai trees. To my surprise, I found a whole new world out there, and have now developed a keen interest in carving a wide variety of subjects. As with my other hobbies my skill level is very mediocre, but I do enjoy it.
What is it you enjoy most about bonsai? As I reflect on the nature of the various hobbies and interests that I have enjoyed over the years, I realise that there is a common theme. They can all be undertaken in isolation, working away at my own pace, at whatever skill level I want, and with whatever objectives I set for myself. They have all allowed me to employ my limited skills as a photographer, and from time to time to develop a web site in connection with the hobby. Perhaps most importantly, my hobbies have provided a conduit for me to meet with other people who share my interest. My nature is such that I can’t get involved in something in a half-hearted fashion. I always need to get stuck in, give it 100%, and do the best that I can. I’m not a gregarious person, but I do welcome the opportunity to share my interest with other enthusiasts. I also like talking to the public and trying to encourage new members into the hobby. Finally, I love the fact that the hobby is a very broad church, able to accommodate people from all walks of life, with different levels of interest and experience.