About Me

My first experiences of the world of Sugarcraft, was being fascinated as a child by the wonderful cakes my eldest sister Barbara used to make for the local young farmers Club. After leaving school, I started my career as a professional Chef, training in London and eventually acquiring a City & Guilds 151 & 152 in catering.

After many years of differing occupations and raising a family, My return to catering and my interest in the art of Sugarcraft began again when Barbara introduced me to Muffy McKenzie – a noted teacher of craft. Muffy’s skill and enthusiasm fuelled my interest and I gradually began taking on more and more ambitious projects. Requests for celebration cakes for friends and family became increasingly common. Muffy introduced me to Tombi Peck – Founder member of the British Sugarcraft guild. Tombi was a great mentor to me, encouraging me throughout my journey and becoming a good friend in the process.

My hobby continued from this point. Being largely self-taught. I began to seek like-minded individuals, leading me to join the Bishops-Castle Sugarcraft Guild where I performed my first demonstrations. I later went on to found Ludlow Branch of the guild being closer to my home at the time, continuing to regularly demonstrate and hold workshops all over the country. I started to enter competitions including Le Salon Culinaire International de Londres winning a Silver medal for a celebration cake and two gold medals for wedding cakes.

After then spending some time working in the Sugarcraft retail industry, supplying equipment and creating celebration cakes – I decided that my real passion was in teaching and demonstrating and went on to do this as my full time occupation.

Since then, I have gone on to demonstrate all over the world including Holland, Ireland, Australia, Brazil, USA, Latvia and Nigeria. I have also enjoyed participating in several publications. I published my first book “Garden Flowers”, followed by “Sugar Roses For Cakes” (2001) and “Sugar Orchids For Cakes” ( 2002) both co-written with my good friends Alan Dunn and Tombi Peck.

Now, based myself in Abergavenny, Wales, I continue to teach and demonstrate my art and am working on more Books and publications.