Introducing cake designer, Rosalind Miller…

Continuing my Wedding Wednesday blog post series, I’m delighted to feature today an interview with cake designer, Rosalind Miller, together with images of her stunning creations.

I met Rosalind in February at the Designer Wedding Show in London and you may remember that I featured some photos of her stand in this blog post.

Last year, she won the ‘Best Decorated Cupcake of the Year’ award in the National Cupcake Championships.  And this year, she was the National Winner of the ‘Best Wedding Cake Designer’ award at the Wedding Industry Awards.

Over to Rosalind…

Could you tell us what prompted you to become a cake designer?

I’ve always loved baking, and my mother used to make gorgeous birthday cakes decorated with the most fantastic sugar flowers.

My background is in Art and Design. I started my career as a textile designer and taught Graphic Design for many years at Central St Martins College of Art and Design.

It seemed a natural progression to bring all my creative skills together in cake design.

When did you start your business and where are you based?

I started the business in 2007 concentrating on cupcakes, which were very new in the UK at the time. I’m based in London.

What different types of cakes do you make?

I’m primarily a wedding cake designer but I also specialise in bespoke celebration cakes for all occasions.

My designs vary from elegant, timeless, floral-based cakes, with a big emphasis on the detailed sugar flowers, to modern twists on traditional styles. I also make more whimsical celebration cakes.

Whilst I make many different styles of celebration cakes, there’s always a strong emphasis on attention to detail, excellent craftsmanship and an innovative approach to cake design.

All our cakes are home-baked, with flavours including Belgian Triple Chocolate, Raspberry and Madagascan Vanilla, Elderflower, Lavender and Rose.

Could you tell us where you get your inspiration for the floral decorations on your cakes?

For flowers, mostly from my garden, which I look out onto when designing. However I often spot a floral detail on a dress, piece of fabric or wallpaper that inspires me.

Other design ideas may come from some of my own art work, as in the Ivory Rose cake, one of my most popular designs, which was based on one of my paintings.

I find inspiration in many places…artworks and illustrations, films, fashion, jewellery and the garden.

I like to mix classic and contemporary and I’m always watching trends and looking for anything interesting that could be translated into a cake.

Is one particular cake design the most popular?

The ‘Bees and Blossom’ cake below with hundreds of pastel-coloured blossoms and golden bees has been especially popular this year, along with the cakes with sugar lace details.

Could you tell us about your masterclasses?

I’ve been running classes for a few years and love to share my skills and inspire others.

The classes are held in my purpose-built kitchen in Honor Oak Park in London, very easily accessible by car, train and tube.

I have students from all over the world who come to London to learn my techniques, and I also get invited to teach masterclasses in various countries.

You can take classes from the basics, learning to bake and decorate cupcakes and wedding cupcakes decoration, through to creating stacked wedding cakes, and the ‘Exquisite Sugar Flowers’ class. 

What are your plans for the remainder of 2012?

In between all the wedding cakes I’m making this summer, I’m writing the definitive guide to wedding cakes.

I’ve just confirmed a publishing deal to write this book which will be published in November 2013.  This is so exciting, but a lot of work!

I’m also kept busy writing articles for different cake magazines.

Do you have a favourite flower?

The peony for its looks, and because it seems such a quintessentially English garden flower (though I’m sure its origins are in the Far East).

I’m always delighted if my garden peonies survive the rain and come out in flower!

Many thanks to Rosalind for all her help in putting together today’s blog post.  If you’d like to keep up-to-date with her news, she’s on Facebook and Twitter.

And more details about her cupcake company can be found on her Peggy’s Cupcakes website.

(Images : Rosalind Miller)