David Penny – International President
David was born in 1969 in the south east of England. He spent his childhood in Crowborough in East Sussex in 2015 he moved to Lenham in Kent.
During the late 1970’s David was exposed to the culture and traditional arts of Japan through a number of television programs. He started to study the culture of Japan and took up Karate until the club closed eventually moving on to Iaido in later life. He has also studied the Japanese tea ceremony.
In 1979 he was given a Bonsai by his Grandparents and his love of Bonsai was started, he followed a natural path of starting to develop his own trees and in 1986 joined a local Bonsai Society . In 1989 David attended the National Bonsai Convention where he met and spent 2 days with the Japanese Master Mitsuo Matsui.
It was at this convention that David first saw and fell in love with Saikei (Japanese Tray Landscapes) after just 3 months following the convention he was hooked on Saikei. Since that time he has dedicated time and effort to the study of Saikei and its development using materials available in the UK.
David has displayed bonsai and Saikei at a number of prominent shows including Chelsea and a number of national conventions.
In 1995 David Penny and a group of other enthusiasts formed the British Saikei Association which in 2007 became the International Saikei Association in order to be able to serve the needs of Saikei enthusiasts and professionals around the world. David is now serving as Global President and travels both in the UK and around the World Demonstrating and Teaching Saikei and Bonsai to Bonsai Clubs and other interested Societies.
Demonstrations
Any subject on Saikei – David can offer a tailored demonstration based on the requirements of the client on any subject to do with Saikei. If you are unsure as to what you want please contact David who will be delighted to discuss your needs.
Most subjects on Bonsai – David can offer a tailored demonstration based on the requirements of the client on any subject to do with Bonsai. If you are unsure as to what you want please contact David who will be delighted to discuss your needs.
David believes that demonstrators should be affordable by any club and therefore demonstration and teaching charges are kept to a minimum.
You can contact David by email david.penny@saikei.org.
