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 subject. The Bonsai-U platform created by Bjorn Bjorholm (Eisei-en Kyoto) became a pivotal part of Shawn's online education.
During this early time in 2022, Shawn visited Chojo Feature Trees in Mt Dandenong and met owner Jeff Barry, who accepted Shawn as a volunteer at the nursery, which led to a full-time position as a bonsai artist in 2025.

In 2024, Shawn created the Ukiyo Bonsai YouTube channel, featuring Day In The Life content, as well as bonsai transformations and educational videos. 

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.