2026 Cl Academy Workshops
The workshops at Cake International provide you with an opportunity to learn from some of the most talented artists in the cake industry. In small classroom settings, you receive a hands on learning experience, get exclusive access to techniques, tips and tricks from your tutor of choice.
Workshops spaces are limited to ensure the very best tuition possible. Every effort is made to move the class along but as each student works at a different speed and/or level, we cannot guarantee you will complete the finished piece in the allotted time.
Full day workshops include lunch and refreshments. All equipment is provided (to be returned at the end of your session). Workshop tickets give you entry to the main show.
Payment plans/ installments to help spread the cost are available for workshops, please email info@ichf.co.uk for more information
Main Hall
SPONSORED BY
Queen of Hearts by Carla Puig
Friday 6th November (09.00 – 17.30) AND Saturday 7th November (09.00 – 13.00)
This intensive one-and-a-half-day class focuses on sculpting a realistic adult female face working with modelling chocolate. Students will create a 25 cm tall piece built on a dummy structure, combining technical precision with artistic sensitivity.
At the beginning of the class, each student will receive a detailed dossier along with reference images. Using these materials, the instructor will introduce the fundamentals of facial proportions, providing essential guidelines to understand and construct a realistic female face.
The class then moves on to a fully guided, step-by-step sculpting process. The instructor demonstrates each stage before students replicate it, ensuring a clear and structured learning experience. Throughout the class, continuous individual support is provided, allowing students to receive corrections, guidance, and personalized feedback at any time if requested.
Progressively, each student develops their own sculpture, gaining confidence and control over modelling chocolate, learning how to apply, refine, and smooth the material to achieve lifelike features.
Once the sculpting is complete, the instructor will explain how to create the decorative elements using fondant and wafer paper, adding character and refinement to the final piece. The class concludes with a demonstration and guided practice of edible painting techniques, bringing the sculpture to life through colour and refined detailing.
By the end of the class, each student will have created their own sculpture, having worked step by step through the process while acquiring a comprehensive set of techniques that can be applied to their own artistic and professional projects.
Price: £430.00
Carla was born and still lives in Girona, Spain. Carla won Best in Show 2016 at Cake International and Sculptor of the Year 2025 at the Cake and Bake International Awards, and since then has taught workshops annually for the show including the spring escape weekend this year. Carla recently completed her art degree specialising in “sculpture techniques”. Being well known for her incredibly realistic facial sculptures, Carla’s love of teaching has taken her all over the world and gained the adoration of many in the cake industry. Carla spends her spare time with her 2 dogs and her husband, usually in that order!
SPONSORED BY
Piped Buttercream Floral Cake Design with Neetha Syam, Buttercream Petals
Saturday 7th November (09.00 – 17.30)
In this full day class you will learn to make our Signature Buttercream recipe that is delicious (won the taste category at Cake International and Salon Culinaire), not overly sweet, stable, and glossy for flower piping.
Plus other skills and techniques learnt will include –
✅ Colouring techniques & Preparing multi-tone piping bags for Realistic flowers
✅ Pipe a variety of flowers – David Austin Roses, Garden Roses, Rose Buds, Chrysanthemums, Begonia (ruffled flowers), Hydrangeas (filler flowers), and leaves
✅ Covering and Smoothing a real cake
✅ Arrange the flowers on a two-tiered cake (One tier real cake & One tier dummy)
✅ Learn how to adapt these buttercream floral piping techniques to suit different occasions – pastel flowers, bold & vibrant colours, muted analogue palettes, and more (Ideas will be covered in class)
✅ All materials provided. You can take your beautiful creation home.
✅ Buttercream Petals Masterclass Certificate provided in your name
✅ After class support from Neetha – Recipe booklets & Course notes provided. Also, You can ask any questions or doubts following class by contacting Neetha Syam via email (neetha@buttercreampetals.com)
Price: £290.00
Neetha Syam is the founder of ‘Buttercream Petals – Cake Art School’. She specialises in buttercream and chocolate cream floral art, including intricate flower piping & palette knife painting. She is the author of ‘Buttercream Petals’ book, published by Search Press UK.
Neetha is a multi award-winning cake artist, Best in Class in the Tasted category at Cake International (2017) and Salon Culinaire (2019). In 2025, she was honoured with the title of ‘Buttercream Artist of the Year’ at the Incredible India Cake Magazine Awards (IICMA) held in Delhi. The same year, she was also a Finalist for ‘Flower Artist of the Year’ at Cake International UK.
Through her online school (www.buttercreampetals.com), Neetha shares her art with students from around the world.
Cake International Terms & Conditions for Workshops
All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure our workshop areas are made safe.
All full day workshops include lunch and refreshments.
All materials and equipment required to create the piece advertised provided. You will be able to take home your finished piece (not the equipment supplied).
It might be necessary for some small items to be supplied by the student, a list will be sent to you before the workshop.
The student is responsible for their own travel costs to and from the workshop.
Please be aware that it is possible that the workshop may run over the expected finish time.
Due to such a high demand for places, the full payment is required upon booking.
Please be aware that once the full payment has been made, we are unable to refund so please double check travel arrangements before committing to a workshop.
Please inform us at the time of booking if you have any special dietary needs and/or allergies
Maximum number of students are stated in each class description.
All students must be 18 or older and are legally responsible for themselves and their actions whilst participating in the workshop.
In the unlikely event the workshop is cancelled by Cake International, you will receive a full refund. Cake International cannot be held responsible for any of your travel/accommodation costs.
