Rangiora’s hyper-realistic cake artist Tracey Kitchingman has won two People’s Choice Awards in Cake Off competitions at the Christchurch and Auckland food shows this year.

The self-taught artist won return flights and accommodation for the Auckland Food Show for her Christchurch Food Show win.

She scored a trip to Wellington for the World of Wearable Art Show this September/October for her Auckland Food Show success.

"Needless to say I am pretty chuffed," she said.

Tracey, who majored in art history at Auckland University and has always been a creative dabbler, experimenting with artwork, sewing, clay and cake decorating, began baking for her “very forgiving family and friends," when she was about 10 years old.

Both of her grandmothers were talented bakers and made memorable birthday cakes for their grandchildren. However Tracey's cakes started off "very average."

But gradually improvement came and the urge to focus on hyper-realistic cakes took hold.

"The explosion of hyper-realistic cake decorating television shows inspired me to lean into creating cakes that aren’t necessarily traditional or pretty," she said.

"I love that cakes can be outside the box, still taste great and make the ordinary extraordinary.

"Baking and getting the taste and flavours right are key to a great overall cake experience, but the cake decoration is what fills my cup up the most."

At the moment, baking cakes is a weekend and late-night hobby for Tracey, who works part time as the Visitor Experience Co-ordinator at Riccarton House, in Christchurch.

"I look after our guides, tours, all things front of house, social media, host story times and create and run the sold-out Ghost Tours," she said.

Tracey is also a volunteer content creator for the Waimakariri Public Arts Trust.

However, she is also focused on developing her love of baking into a business venture.

She is looking at getting her home kitchen registered soon so she can start taking orders for her popular cakes.