Alan started cake decorating at an early age. He has become one of the sugarcraft world's leading authors and is hugely respected for his artistic approach in creating lifelike sugar and cold porcelain flowers. Alan is an accredited demonstrator for The British Sugarcraft Guild. He teaches and demonstrates across Europe, as well as the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Japan and South Africa. He lives in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear.