Say hello to regular contributor and acclaimed sugar artist, Elena Wilkinson. Born in Russia, this lovely lady now lives in the UK with her husband, where she spends her time making amazing sugar flower arrangements for all kinds of occasions.

This pretty pastel-coloured arrangement from the February/March 2017 issue features three popular wedding flowers: hydrangeas, roses and succulents

Her love of sugarcraft started when she was looking for an idea for a friend's birthday cake in 2012. Elena saw some beautiful flowers on a cake and could not believe it when she found out that they were made of sugar. Adamant about learning, she started to practice sugarcraft and eventually taught herself how to make all the sugar flowers you see in her projects today. Throughout her extensive experience, she has developed a freehand and natural flower-making style, based on the study of real flowers.

The tutorial for this gorgeous dahlia can be found in the June/July 2019 issue, where Elena also includes instructions on how to make evening primrose and fuchsia for one arrangement

The first project in her Floral Aplhabet series, Elena reveals her techniques for making this anemone, as well as for beautiful bluebells and clematis flowers. Learn how to make it yourself in the April/May 2019 issue

Elena won Gold and First Place at the Squires Kitchen Exhibition Competition three years running – in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

She has been contributing to Cakes & Sugarcraft magazine since 2013, and her incredibly realistic sugar flowers have become a firm favourite for our readers. Her comprehensive Floral Alphabet sugar flower series was so popular in fact that she will be preparing another series, starting soon. The theme of this new series will be on colours, where Elena will create a few different flowers all of the same colour and assemble them into one arrangement. Watch this space!

Today, Elena has a growing reputation for her amazingly life-like sugar flowers and travels regularly to teach, both in the UK and abroad.

Be inspired by the abundance of an English cottage garden and decorate your cake with ripe berries and sugar glowers in rich golden hues! Learn how to make this arrangement yourself in the August/September 2017 issue

More Information

You can learn how to make Elena's previously published sugar flower arrangements by purchasing a hard or digital copy of the magazine via the Squires Kitchen Shop. You can do this by clicking on the individual issues and opening the preview pages to Look Inside at the contents page: HERE.

Contact Cakes & Sugarcraft if you have any other questions regarding the magazine or Elena's tutorials: enquiries@cakesandsugarcraft.com

Instagram: @elenawilkinson

Facebook: @no1insugarcraft

In the December/January 2016-17 issue, Elena prepared some gorgeous winter red sugar flowers. This rich arrangement is perfect for Christmas, with red ranunculuses and crimson roses surrounded by winter berries and elegant foliage