Hi there, I’m Leigh-Anne, Cake Artist & Founder of Leigh-Anne's Flower Cake Design based in Manchester and serving Manchester, Cheshire and the wider North West of the UK.
Here’s My Story: How I Started and What Inspired Me to Become a Wedding Cake Artist.
As I was growing up, my mum greatly INSPIRED me as a baker, and she is the core of who I am. As a single parent to four children, she didn't have much time or money, but she always made sure we were well-loved, cared for, and fed with freshly cooked meals without fail. I have many happy memories of shopping for fresh ingredients with my mum and then watching her happily bake our favourite desserts.
As a little girl, I was always in the kitchen. I would play shop using the ingredients from the cupboards, using the sink as the checkout, and I would role-play for hours! But BAKING was one of my favourite activities. I loved spending hours flipping through my mum's recipe book, which was full of pies, tarts, and cakes! I endlessly searched for the perfect dessert recipe to try out. But one RECIPE always stood out to me: the classic vanilla fairy cakes with wings. I can still feel and remember the excitement I felt as I went in search of the ingredients, carefully measuring out every ingredient, and making sure to follow the recipe to a tee. And when the CAKES were baking in the oven, the smell filled the air. Then came my next favorite part, making the buttercream. Back then, I would use caster sugar and butter, and I absolutely loved the gritty, buttery taste!
As I grew, the EXCITEMENT to bake has never left me. And still to this day, measuring out fresh ingredients and the smell of delicious cakes baking in the oven always bring back those very happy memories.
Many years later, the EXPERIENCE of ordering birthday cakes for my children opened my eyes and heart to the world of handcrafted bespoke cakes. I was so impressed with the exceptional cake artistry and personalised attention to detail that went into each creation, making them the centre stage on special occasions that family and friends looked forward to and talked about for years afterwards.
As my interest in bespoke cakes grew, I began contributing to my daughter's birthday cake designs by sketching rough ideas. Encouraged by my cake maker, I enrolled in a local college and excelled in level 1 and level 2 Cake Decoration courses, proudly earning a distinction in each, and also being named student of the year at one point. There, I learned traditional royal icing techniques and discovered my talent for creating sugar flowers, instilling in me a deep respect for traditional cake art techniques.
Over the years, I've made celebration cakes for loved ones and friends. Many enquired about my plans to start a business, but I hesitated until my interest in gardening and modern art led me to explore modern romantic wedding cake designs with intricate handcrafted sugar flowers. Captivated by their exceptional quality, I realised that this was where my heart and passion belonged.
In October 2019, I participated in Cake International for the first time with my first-ever wedding cake design, and to my amazement, I received a silver award. This achievement boosted my confidence and creativity, confirming my calling to share my sugar artistry with local couples seeking the best wedding cake for their special day. From there, I launched Leigh-Anne's Flower Cake Design in 2020.
Along the way, I’ve also had the honour of being featured in two well-known cake magazines!
Now, four years later, Leigh-Anne's Flower Cake Design attracts so much positive attention.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Elegant - Incredible - Stunning - Sensational - Exquisite - Gorgeous - Chic - Perfect - Beautiful - Masterpiece - World-Class - Magical - Glamorous
I still have much to do to make my artistic wedding cakes known both locally and worldwide. There are many suppliers and couples to meet in the future, and I have so much more to learn and achieve as both an artist and a business owner. Although the journey has been much harder than I ever imagined, I’ve achieved so much so far, and the future looks very promising for Leigh-Anne's Flower Cake Design. There is no overnight success for many businesses; it takes years of taking small steps forward each day to reach your goals and dreams. So, if you are an entrepreneur like me, I see you—you are amazing! Keep going.
As a private person, sharing my story is a departure from my norm, but I wanted to offer insight into my journey. If you've read this far, thank you for your time.
If you’re planning a wedding in Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, or Merseyside and are looking for a bespoke wedding cake that reflects your unique love story, I’d love to help make your special day even more memorable! Let’s Chat
If you'd like to follow my journey and see more of my work, feel free to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest.
I can't wait to connect with you!
Leigh-Anne x
Cake Artist & Founder of Leigh-Anne's Flower Cake Design