Shona Sutherland is an award-winning chef, pastry specialist, and respected culinary educator with a career spanning over two decades. After earning her HND in Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management, she worked extensively in professional kitchens before founding Taystful in Blairgowrie, Perthshire in 2011 — a base for her artisan chocolate work, private dining, and pastry training.
A passionate mentor, Shona delivers specialist courses and chef development sessions across the UK and internationally, collaborating with organisations including HIT Training, HIT Scotland, and Compass Apprenticeships. Her competitive achievements include success at the Culinary World Cup, Culinary Olympics, Salon Culinaire, and Scottish Culinary Championships, both individually and as part of national teams. These experiences have since led her into culinary judging at a high level.
Shona has contributed to recipe development with renowned producers such as Koppert Cress, Xoco Gourmet, Blackthorn Salt and Lakeland Dairies, and is a food product evaluator for the International Taste Institute, allowing her to combine global travel with her love of innovation.
Her work has also taken her into Scotland’s grandest settings, acting as a private chef in castles, lodges and manor houses. Shona remains driven by creativity, quality, and the opportunity to share knowledge with the next generation of chefs. As Chair of the Association of Pastry Chefs (APC), she is proud to work alongside a dedicated team and the Craft Guild of Chefs to inspire, support and elevate aspiring and professional pastry chefs across the industry.