Hi, never heard of it, but I just googled a picture and it looks beautiful (all those flowers!). Why not try it out? Just be sure you know its particular growing needs such as water, light, location, etc. Um... I just read your note again - have you never done bonsai? If so, I wouldn't try any tree yet as you really need to do some serious reading and/or find a local bonsai club to help out. You're in the UK, but is the tree a real tropical (which would need indoor care)? Or would it grow outdoors for life in your climate? You need to know that answer before anything else as, if it's tropical, you'll need to provide all the warmth, humidity (2 sprays a day won't do!) and high light (generally specialty lighting is involved) that it'll need just to keep it alive, along with knowledge of the right soil mix and watering needs.

Hello Lucy, Thank you for your reply. I have done one bonsai before, a wisteria which I have actually posted a picture of on this forum a few weeks ago but wisteria are easy in the U.K. weather and a cold greenhouse is all that's needed in the winter. I knew I had to provide a lot more warmth for the spathodea and that it is a massive tree in it's natural environment, I just hoped someone had done one as a bonsai. I'm going to give it a go!
Hazel.