Feature Gallery
The Bonsai of John Pitt
John Pitt is a Bonsai and Ceramic Artist living in Derbyshire U.K. and first became interested in bonsai in 1994. His father brought him a book and a tree to amuse myself with. He had always kept little trees in plant pots, ?not bonsai? he used to say, ?just trees to remind me of nature?.
John has always had a deep love and admiration for nature, especially mature old trees. Within an hour of reading ?An Introduction to Bonsai? he was hooked, found some scissors and started pruning the Silver Birch he had been given. John still has that tree today and will always treasure it. John joined a couple of local societies and there was no turning back, bonsai quickly became a way of life. He comes from an agricultural and horticultural back ground, and have been growing all sorts of plants since he was a child, so the horticultural side was relatively easy for him to adapt to. John was fortunate, as a landscape gardener he was able to collect all sorts of material to be turned into bonsai, even then he had a passion for creating bonsai not just collecting them.
John had lessons with several European artist?s, and have learnt from all of them, but he prefers to work on his trees alone or with a small group of friends. Bonsai is a great calming influence in his life, he love the development process that builds slowly, year on year. John creates trees that are pleasing to him, and if others like them, then that?s a bonus, there?s nothing more satisfying than working patiently over several years on a tree that you collected, and seeing it develop into a beautiful image. This journey is what bonsai is all about for John, and the many good friends he has made, both locally and all over the world. Most people in bonsai are generous with their time and knowledge and he enjoys nothing more than sharing his passion and knowledge with anyone who cares to wander in my garden. John was pleased to have a tree selected for the Gingko 2005 exhibition, and to have his tree nominated 2nd place at the Noelanders Trophy V11. Early in his bonsai life he realised the importance of the tree / pot relationship, he wanted to make pots for his own trees, and to cut a long story short, John now make a modest living from his bonsai ceramics business and send pots all over the world.
Bonsai and photographs by John Pitt
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
24" tall
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
In training since 1998.
Cedrus brevifolia
22" tall
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
In training since 1997
English Yew (Taxus baccata)
17" tall
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
In training since 1997
Juniperus sp.
18" tall
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
In training since 1998
Shohin Ulmus sp.
7" tall
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
In training since 2003
English Yew (Taxus baccata)
27" tall
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
In training since 1999
Hawthorn (Crataegus sp.)
36"tall
mica pot
in training since 1996.
Juniperus Sabina
16" tall
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
in training since 2002
Juniperus X media 'Blaauws'
29" tall
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
in training since 1999
Acer palmatum
32" tall
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
purchased in 2004
Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
32" tall
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
in training since 1998
Shohin English Yew (Taxus baccata)
8" tall
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
in training since 2000
