UK Floristry Judges Guild

24/08/2025

🌸 Meet the Judge: Karen Barnes 🌸

Augusts Judge is Karen Barnes, an incredible force in the world of floristry! 💐✨

🌟 Karen’s Journey

From working in a busy Leeds florist to founding Flowers by Karen in 1988, Karen has spent decades creating stunning weddings and events, always focusing on high-quality service.

🌍 International Impact

Karen has travelled the world working on high-society, celebrity and royal weddings and has proudly represented UK floristry on the global stage.

🏅 Achievements

✔ Multiple RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold, Silver-Gilt & Bronze medals

✔ Led the Interflora Design Team to Gold in 2016

✔ Co-founder of UK Floristry Judges Guild

✔ Judged at the Floristry World Cup in Shanghai (2010) & Philadelphia (2019)

✔ Ambassador at the Berlin World Cup 2015

✔ Key organiser for the Interflora World Cup 2023

✔ Former Head of Product Development at Interflora

✔ Consultant & trend creator for the global floral industry

✔ Part of the LEGO Botanical Collection design team

🍵 Fun Facts

✅ Favourite non-alcoholic drink: Tea (milk, no sugar)

✅ Favourite tipple: South African Sauvignon Blanc or Whiskey & Dry Ginger

✅ Secret skill: Cake icing & decorating! 🎂

💡 Top Tip for Competitors:

“Practise, practise, practise! ✅ Read the schedule, seek feedback from judges and most importantly, believe in yourself.”

🌼 Why I Judge:

“To share knowledge, inspire the next generation, and celebrate the incredible creativity floristry brings.”

👇 Drop a 🌸 in the comments if you’ve been judged by Karen!

22/08/2025

What a fabulous host !

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝘁 🎙️
Morgan-Douglas Nuth (Morgan Douglas Nuth), a familiar and beloved face for the Floral Community, will be our host during the Theater Evening at the World Cup Floral Art 2025! 🏆

Guiding our competitors and audience through the evening requires a unique blend of deep industry knowledge and captivating stage presence, and Morgan embodies both.

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻?
Morgan brings over 30 years of experience — from owning prestigious shops and flower schools to now dedicating his energy to building a brighter future for florists and growers worldwide.

As an ambassador for organisations like Floral Fundamentals and a friend to many florists, his passion is at the very heart of our community.

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻-𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗽 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁! 🌟

18/08/2025

Save the dates !

Six of the best flower shows to visit🌻 - https://mailchi.mp/purplespotted/flowershowdiarydates Getting out and about is vital for you and your business. And boy is there a mass of inspiration up for grabs over the next few weeks! If you can do them all that would be amazing as they are very different - but hopefully you can fit at least one in and maybe we'll see you there!

World Cup Floral Art 2025
Strawberry Hill House & Garden
Fleurs de Villes
Proflora
British Florist Association
Royal FloraHolland
IFTF 2025 - International Floriculture & Horticulture Trade Fair

16/08/2025

Great example of transparency! Well done 👏

‘Untamed Beauty’
Designed by Katrina Holmes a Club on the Exe Member
FIRST AND BEST ON SHOW
RHS Garden Rosemoor, UK

With other members also achieving great results a huge congratulations to all …

🏆👑

07/08/2025

Can’t wait to see the fabulous flowers !

You’ll see Marginpar's flowers everywhere, helping national champions bring their competition visions to life.

04/08/2025

🌸 Meet the Judge: Kathryn Sherwood
Representing the UK Floristry Judges Guild, Kathryn brings over 40 years of passion, creativity, and dedication to the floristry world. From retail to teaching, and now long-time judging, her love for flowers has never faded. 💐

🌿 Gardening is in her blood
🧶 Loves knitting & cross stitch for charity
🍸 G&T on a sunny day? Yes please!
📝 Top tip for competitors: “Read the schedule carefully – small things can cost big marks!”

💬 “It’s a true honour to judge – seeing every competitor’s creation first-hand is a joy. We never stop learning.”

22/07/2025

Have you got your tickets yet ?

As we head into the final month's preparation for the World Cup Floral Art 2025, it's the last push for Joseph Massie as he looks towards representing the UK in August.

Joseph said:

"We’re so near to the competition now, it’s very much all down to the minute details - checking over every structure, finishing the detail on each element, ensuring the designs are as good as they could ever possibly be.

"This stage of the journey feels so incredibly exciting, and we’re not even there yet! I know my pieces back to front, inside out. I can see each one clearly in my mind before I make them. Creating each feels like second nature now - my hands have been over everything again, and again.

"I’m comfortable with each of them. Nothing feels precarious, nothing feels risky, which is how it should be. There is nothing to worry about, there are no surprises at this stage… well, except for the surprise tasks of course!"

This kind of focus, precision, and sheer craftsmanship is what it takes to compete at the highest level - and we can’t wait to see Joseph bring it all to the world stage.

🙋 Want to be there to support Team UK in person? Head to https://worldcupfloralart.com/ to grab your tickets and be part of something truly special.

16/07/2025

Well done Caroline Crabb Aifd Mdpf🥂🥂🥂

She’s only gone and won! Good Florist Guide member Caroline Crabb of Cornwall in Bodmin, UK has taken the top title at the AIFD American Institute of Floral Designers Palm Springs Symposium 'Design of the Decades' competition with a fabulous design featuring her trademark style of exquisite placement and attention to detail.

The six finalists worked to the theme ‘The Future is Looking Rosy’ and with exactly the same materials to choose from. The only rule was the design had to feature at least six roses grown by competition sponsor Alexandra Farms and incorporate two items from a choice of Pink Aluminium wire, Hot Pink Zip Ties, Yarn covered wire and Hot Pink cellophane. There was no height restriction, but it couldn’t be wider than 30” or cascade over the table and they had just 45 minutes to assess, think, create and clear up their space!

Texting with Caroline as she got ready for the celebration dinner, she said “I am over the moon and thanks must go to my amazing cheer squad. AIFD has a special place in my heart and being part of Symposium is an amazing experience, not just with incredible presentations but the chance to meet so many wonderful florists. I was thrilled to win the heat, to take the top prize at such a prestigious event is the icing on the cake.”

16/07/2025

Not long now !

29/06/2025

🌸 Meet the Judges -Sarah Hills-Ingyon 🌸
Creative Director of Sarah’s Designs, RHS judge, mentor, and full-time flower + plant enthusiast based in beautiful East Devon, where nature and sustainability are a huge inspiration 🌿 A proud past Chair and member of the UK Floristry Judges Guild, she’s all about pushing the boundaries of floral design.
With 45+ years in floristry (she started at 15!), Sarah went from opening her first flower shop at 18 🌿 to winning RHS Chelsea medals and judging top competitions across the UK. A creative powerhouse and lifelong learner, Sarah’s also an enthusiastic crafter, from hat making to jewellery design to felting and glassblowing 💫
When not mentoring the next generation of florists, examining or judging, you’ll find her co-running the Sid Valley Country Hotel with her husband, gardening with her black labs in their organic flower meadows, or enjoying her family and grandchildren... oh yes and a well-earned glass of wine or fizz 🍾 (with dark chocolate, of course 🍫).💡 Top tip to competitors:
“Enjoy the journey, practise, practise, practise (in an ideal world!) then let your originality shine through. It’s not always all about the winning, it’s the taking part!”
💬 “Competitions are the heart of our industry as they keep standards high and keep creativity flowing. It’s an honour to judge and support the future of floristry.”

20/06/2025

Two of our judges and busy judging last night at the International Showcase It was so hot! There were 35 entrants over four class which was such a fabulous turn out More photos to follow! # floristrycompetition