Clare Francis decorates cakes in her adapted caravan (©AAH/Toby Phillips Photography)
S C U L PT U R SCRUMPTIOUS W
here do you go to find a Pennywise the Clown cake for a fan of the Steven King horror, It? Or a sponge cake version of Paddington, The Grinch, Slimer from Ghostbusters, or a relative’s beloved Citroen 2CV? Billingshurst cake maker Clare Francis has carved out a reputation for her remarkable sculptural cakes, made with an artistic eye in an adapted caravan.
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“Most celebration cakes tend to be square or circular with neat edging, but I’m more comfortable with sculptural work,” says Clare. “Proportion is the most important aspect with my creations. I start with a square base and add smaller cuts of cake to build up the structure first. If the shape isn’t right, you can easily end up with a dog with a wonky nose or a character with massive ears!”
“With sculptural cakes, you need a concealed structure to hold the cake upright with all the features in place. They tend to look very strange to begin with, but when you add the icing and start to carve the distinctive features, the defining characteristics are gradually revealed.”
EVOLVING BUSINESS Scrumptious Cupcakes by Clare was founded seven years ago, after the birth of her third child. The hours offered by her former employer didn’t fit in with family commitments, so Clare considered other ways to make money. After buying a box of cupcakes for a child’s birthday, Clare decided to learn how to make them herself by watching YouTube videos. Initially, she made buttercream swirls, selling them to friends and family. But the
Ed: 07812995475 |Carl: 07754337926 Email: thetreemensussex@gmail.com 40
