Gordon was fortunate enough to have a (very basic) pair of Felco secateurs thrust into his hands as a teenager while apprenticing for his father, maintaining and installing gardens in The City of Glasgow. This led to more learning as he attended the same College as his father and was the first 2nd generation student at the renowned Threave School of Gardening in southwest Scotland. It was on this two year full-time program that he was truly bitten by the horticultural bug; in particular plant identification (awarded top plant I.D. student over the duration of the two years), arboriculture and plant production/plant propagation. This inspiration led to further training as he ventured further south to attend the 3 year Diploma program at Pershore College of Horticulture in England with a middle year in industry. Gordon was fortunate enough to work his middle year at Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford, one of Europe's largest and most reputable wholesale producers of quality hardy nursery stock, with production aimed at both the retail and landscape sectors.

Along with working and teaching at the HCP and Pacific Horticulture College, Gordon runs his own arboriculture business. His obsession with plants is almost matched by his love for all things honey bee related and has been fortunate enough to have been working with the bees for over 20 years.