Pune Royal Icing Artist Is Now Part Of Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies: Does It Mean She Will Work For The Royal Family?

Internationally acclaimed royal icing artist Prachi Dhabal Deb from Pune has been appointed as an Associate Artist at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS) in the United Kingdom. The world record holder is the first Indian cake and royal icing artist to receive such an honour, marking a historic moment for edible art on a global academic platform.

Associate Artists at OCHS are chosen for their outstanding creative contributions and their ability to enrich conversations around heritage, craft, and visual culture. Prachi’s appointment recognises her unique ability to blend culinary artistry with deep cultural and spiritual storytelling.

Bridging Edible Art and Cultural Heritage

Prachi’s royal icing creations go far beyond conventional cake decoration.

Her work draws inspiration from Indian handlooms, temple architecture, textile patterns, and spiritual symbolism, transforming cakes into intricate narratives of Indian heritage. Through this role, she will contribute to academic and cultural dialogues on Indian art traditions and craftsmanship, using royal icing as a powerful medium.

Reacting to the appointment, Prachi said, “It is a profound honour to represent India and to bring royal icing art — something many see only as dessert decoration — into an academic and cultural context. This recognition shows that edible art can also tell stories, preserve heritage, and contribute to scholarly discussions about craft and creativity,” as reported by Punekar News.

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‘Hope This Inspires Other Artists’

Prachi also expressed hope that her journey would inspire others to explore traditional art forms through unconventional mediums. “I hope this inspires other artists to explore how traditional art forms can be expressed through unconventional mediums, and to see culinary artistry as a serious creative discipline on the global stage,” she said.

Prachi Dhabal Deb’s Journey From Finance To Flour And Icing

Born in Dehradun, Prachi has been living in Pune for more than 13 years. Her love for baking began early, she baked her first cake at the age of 10 and spent her summer vacations making cupcakes. However, as she grew older, she shifted her focus to academics and eventually joined a multinational company as a financial analyst.

After spending 11 years in the corporate world, Prachi was bored of the mundane routine and she decided to quit her high-paying job, seeking creative field beyond routine work.

International Recognition and Awards

In 2011, Prachi travelled to Australia with her husband, where she enrolled in baking and cake decoration courses. Upon returning to India, she pursued royal icing art seriously. Her dedication paid off in 2019 when she became the first Indian to win a prestigious royal icing award in Birmingham, cementing her place on the international stage.