About John
Hello, I'm a Bonsai and Ceramic artist living in Derbyshire, England. Thanks to my Fathers influence, who has grown trees in pots for as long
as I can remember, I became interested in bonsai in the early 1990's.
Since I had always enjoyed ceramics many years earlier at school,
I thought I would create pots for my own trees. I decided from the
beginning I would teach myself the new skills I would need, I didn't
want to be taught 'what not to do', I had to learn by trial and error how
to create the visions I had in my imagination. I soon developed a passion
for hand made pots that are unique and individual. I found it fascinating
to see how the choice of pot could have an effect on the feeling of the
whole composition. To begin with my friends saw my pots and asked me to
make some for their trees. Now I make pots full time and sell to every
continent in the world and
you will see my pots at major exhibitions all over the world.
I am privileged to have had
trees selected for the prestigious Ginkgo awards, the Noelanders Trophy
and the UBI exhibition. Because of my passion for bonsai trees I believe I have a unique insight into creating bonsai pots, my passion is designing
and creating pots specifically for a particular tree, bringing
the tree and pot together, to make them look as if they were made for each other.
Most of my work is commissions and I am always
willing to work with you to design and create a pot for your tree, either
to your design, mine, or a
combination of both; personal taste is also very important in pot choice.
I use various methods to construct my
pots; coiling, slabs, etc. but all are totally handmade, this way I can
make a pot to any size and vary the width or thickness of the rims, feet
etc. This is the only way to match the characteristics of both tree and
pot into one harmonious image. By using different clays, various metal oxides and glaze recipes, or a
combination of several, I create finishes that are totally individual and
some times impossible to repeat!
Some of the oxide finishes I use are
'once fired', (the oxide and clay fuse together and this allows
combinations to be blended on the surface of the pot itself), other
finishes require the pot to be bisque fired first, and some require 3
firings (a little risky!) but these are very special. I call them "Special
Edition" pots, the glazes have very unique qualities. All are fired to approx 1260° Celsius and are frost-proof.
I also make inspirational pots for accents and accessory
plantings in all shapes and sizes, to complement your tree in its display,
or simply to enjoy for there own beauty.
If you do not see the exact pot you want on my website, please contact me,
I'll be happy to discuss your tree and offer my thoughts on a suitable
pot, There is no obligation to buy, even if you have ordered a special
pot, until you see the pot (or a picture) and are happy that it is what
you want.
I am a commercial member of the Federation of British Bonsai Societies and The Bonsai Traders Association, so you should see me at
many of the shows in the UK and in Europe.
Visitors are welcome by prior arrangement, please contact me for details.
FREE
postage to mainland U.K

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