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Carl is a member of Oyama Bonsai Kai and Cape Bonsai Kai.  He started bonsai in 1987 when he was 15. He has been passionately engaged in the art since then and has lectured at numerous clubs, regional symposia and at National Conventions. He travelled to China, Australia, Holland, Belgium and Italy to see bonsai and attend conventions. He enjoys writing about bonsai and have had many articles published in the mainstream media, local bonsai magazines and in international bonsai magazines. He wrote the book "Bonsai Success in Southern Africa" with Keith Kirsten and has consulted on and contributed pictures to 4 other books. He won "best tree on show" and had many other category winners at the Cape Bonsai Kai's annual show through the years.

He is also very interested in photographing bonsai and has had two of his trees selected as winners in the World Bonsai Contest.

He works on anything interesting, challenging and possibly unconventional and refining Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) and Chinese Maples (Acer beugerianum) are favourites from a technique and horticultural point of view.

He likes combining a discussion of a more theoretical aspect of bonsai with a practical demonstration. He feels that it is important that attendees are stimulated and to think about their art rather than just sit back and watch somebody work on a tree.

He also enjoys critique sessions where the good points and bad points of the bonsai on display are discussed and suggestions of improvement are made. He also does "Do it now" critiques where the suggestions are carried out and the bonsai is refined after discussing it.

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