Origins

Shawn is a self-taught artist who pivoted his life into bonsai, building a career that combines his passion for nature, education and design. Since 2024, he has been working at Chojo Feature Trees nursery under the mentorship of Jeff Barry, a leading figure in Australian bonsai.
 

First introduced to bonsai in 2022 through a YouTube video by Bonsai Releaf, Shawn quickly became fixated on these miniature trees and began to research and learn more about the art form. The Bonsai-U platform, created by Bjorn Bjorholm (Eisei-en Kyoto), became a pivotal part of Shawn's online education.
 

During this early period in 2022, Shawn visited Chojo Feature Trees in Mt Dandenong and met owner Jeff Barry, who later accepted Shawn as a volunteer at the nursery. This eventually led to a full-time position as a bonsai artist in 2024.
 

In 2023, Shawn launched the Ukiyo Bonsai YouTube channel, sharing educational content, bonsai transformations and a behind-the-scenes look at his work at Chojo Feature Trees.
 

His continued study has also taken him internationally, including travelling to Germany in 2025 to work with renowned bonsai artist Walter Pall, where he also had the opportunity to interview Walter and tour his private collection.
 

In 2026, Shawn was selected as a future Artist in Residence at the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia, where he will spend a week working on some of Australia’s finest trees, while also delivering workshops and demonstrations for the local bonsai community.

The Japanese term Ukiyo - 浮世 (pronounced you-key-oh) translates to 'floating/fleeting/transient world', and was used to describe the urban lifestyle and culture of the Edo period.
In modern days, the term is used to refer to a state of mind emphasising living in the moment, detached from the difficulties of life.