Click here to jump to CV   Biography I WAS born in 1946 and was brought up in the lush green countryside of southern England, where trees were every boys' playground. My first months were spent in the shade of an old cedar tree; my childhood was spent climbing trees (often to steal apples); and my youth was mostly mis-spent behind them. At eight years old I made my first attempt at bonsai, inspired by a chapter in a children's activity book. Failure was inevitable. But along with that apple seed, another was sown - and in 1974 it germinated.... I've been growing bonsai now for over thirty years, spending the first ten concentrating on shohin. Having been trained in graphic design, which I still practice, it is inevitable that I have some pretty strong ideas about the bonsai image. Nowadays, each bonsai I create must be different - as original as possible. I don't have much interest in slavishly following classic Japanese styles any more, although I still believe it is a good discipline to learn. I believe that we should all draw upon our own artistic and cultural heritage to create ever-more imaginative and evocative bonsai. There seems little point in trying to evoke images of an entirely alien land and culture when our own provides such a rich source for inspiration. But there is one source of inspiration that is common to all bonsai enthusiasts,wherever they live - that fanciful landscape of the mind where anything is possible.

C U R R I C U L U M.. V I T A E   1954 - At eight years old I made my first attempt at bonsai, inspired by a chapter in a children's activity book. Failure was inevitable. 1974 - Then working as a book designer, I made my second attempt at bonsai on the window ledge of my London flat. Success! 1979 - Window ledge now too small ­ moved to a large garden with a small house in Surrey. Joined the Bonsai Kai of the Japan Society of London. 1985 - Exhibited on gold medal winning stand at the Chelsea Flower Show. 1989 - Launched Bonsai magazine and travelled to Japan to study bonsai in greater depth. Began teaching in UK. 1991 - Began teaching overseas. 1991-2000 - Consulting Editor for "Bonsai" magazine (UK). 1994-97 - Board Member of the European Bonsai Association 1996-2001 - Member of the Bonsai Judging Panel at the Chelsea Flower Show, London 2001 - Relocated to the United States to work full-time as a bonsai teacher, artist and consultant. Current Now residing in Salem, Massachussetts, USA, and working full-time as a bonsai teacher, artist and consultant. Hô Yoku-en, my working bonsai garden, is located at Bonsai West, Littleton, MA. Founder and Principal of the Hô Yoku School of Bonsai Teaching engagements throughout the USA and continued engagements in Europe. Bonsai Consultant to Lars Anderson Collection, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Boston. Publications 1990 Practical Bonsai, Crowood Press ­ a handbook 1993 Step-by-step guide to Bonsai, Colour Library Books ­ this title sells well in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Spain, Holland, Germany and, for three years, was the best-selling bonsai title in the USA. 1996 The Bonsai Survival Manual, Quarto/Cassells 1997 Hamlyn Care Manual: Bonsai, Hamlyn 1997 Presenter on Royal Horticultural Society's video on bonsai 1999 Bonsai contributor to Readers' Digest Encyclopedia of Gardening 2001 The Art of Bonsai Design, Sterling (USA) Contributor to The Bonsai Handbook, by David Prescott (various publishers) Contributor to Bonsai Landscapes, by Suchin Ee, Storey (USA) Prior Teaching Engagements Seminars, workshops and demonstrations in Germany, Russia, Italy, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, France, USA and Spain, where the bonsai I created at their national congress in 1993 was acquired for the collection of the former Prime Minister, Felipe Gonzalez Awards Certificates of Merit awarded by Saburo Kato, President of Nippon Bonsai Association Certificates of Merit from Federation of British Bonsai Societies Photographic exhibit accepted for 10th International Exhibition in Osaka, Japan. Special commendation from I-Chi-Su, President, Taiwan Bonsai Association Photographic exhibit accepted for JAL Worldwide Bonsai Competition 1999 2001: Second prize in JAL Worldwide Bonsai Contest EMAIL

"Bonsai" magazine launced April 1989     "Bonsai Art Europe" Published by Colin Lewis 1998