Wakefield florist Danielle Walker named Studio Florist of the Year 2026 in global competition

Danielle Walker, 37, founder of Wreaths & Flowers by Danielle in Wrenthorpe, Wakefield, has been named Studio Florist of the Year 2026 in the prestigious Florist of the Year Awards, which attract entries from florists worldwide.

Danielle earned 19.8% of the public vote, reflecting strong backing from her customers and local community. The annual awards are run by Kay’s Flower School and celebrate excellence in floristry.

Her journey into floristry began after a successful gardening business and wreath-making workshops. Inspired by creating her own wedding flowers in 2023, Danielle trained at Kay’s Flower School starting in January 2024 and later established her dedicated floristry studio.

Since then, she has built a multi-award-winning independent business focused on personalised floral arrangements for weddings, funerals, celebrations and other occasions. Danielle creates all her designs herself from her Wakefield studio, emphasising the story and meaning behind each piece.

Reflecting on the award, Danielle said it was especially meaningful due to the personal journey behind her business and the support she has received from family and community. She credits her husband and mother for their help and values the votes from local customers.

Danielle’s love of flowers is rooted in childhood memories with her grandparents. She recalls bringing garden flowers to her grandmother during her later years affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia, bringing joy and comfort through the blooms. After inheriting £1,000 from her grandparents, she used it to fund her first floristry course as a tribute to their memory. The forget-me-not flower in her logo and van design honours them.

Among Danielle’s specialities are funeral and sympathy flowers, including bespoke football tributes for Leeds United fans. She takes great care to create tributes that reflect the personality and passions of those remembered.

In addition to funeral and wedding flowers, she offers bouquets, seasonal arrangements, flower subscriptions, and runs wreath-making and floristry workshops. Her approach focuses on creating personalised designs rather than standard catalogue arrangements.

Danielle emphasises the personal connection floristry offers, describing it as a way to express feelings when words may not suffice. She values providing a one-to-one service, sourcing from independent suppliers and using British flowers whenever possible.

Now holding the Studio Florist of the Year 2026 title, Danielle plans to continue growing her business while staying rooted in the Wakefield community where it began. She remains passionate about her work and grateful for the journey from her garden to her professional studio.