An Ellesmere woman has been named one of the best florists in the UK at a recent awards ceremony.
Victoria Upton, from Dudleston Heath near Ellesmere, gained national recognition after being crowned best newcomer in the UK at the British Florist Association (BFA) Awards.
The awards celebrated excellence across the floral industry and were judged by both experts and public vote.
A Level 3 Floristry student at Coleg Cambria Yale in Wrexham, Victoria took home the prestigious title at the 2025 FleurEx event, held at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham.
Victoria only discovered her passion for floristry in recent years, having previously completed a degree in ceramics.
“A year ago, my technical skills were very limited, so to win this award feels unbelievable,” she said.
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“I’m thrilled with the result and I am still pinching myself. Coleg Cambria has been incredible – the staff, facilities, and support have helped me turn a creative spark into a real business.”
Now in the final year of her qualification, Victoria has already launched her own venture – Violet Hill Flower Company – which champions seasonal locally-grown flowers, and operates from her home-based studio and cutting patch.
“My journey into floristry began through the simple, rewarding act of growing flowers,” Victoria said.
“From the very beginning, it was the delicate, fragrant blooms that inspired me to create sustainable designs which celebrate the natural beauty of seasonal flowers
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Victoria thanked her “floristry family” at Cambria, including long-serving lecturer Amanda Ellis, who was herself a finalist in the Floristry Tutor of the Year category.
Amanda, who has taught at Cambria for over 25 years, said: “This is an outstanding achievement. Victoria has worked extremely hard and shown incredible creativity and determination – we’re all so proud of her.”
