Meet York's celebrity florist Sheryl Popplewell - Elton, Lulu and Little Mix are among her clients

THERE'S nothing in Sheryl Popplewell's flower shop in York to suggest her other life. Or almost nothing.

White vases brimming with late-summer and early autumn blooms sit in rows on shelves, while beautiful bouquets wrapped in cellophane and ribbon tempt customers from the counter. Outside, a tastefully-painted wooden handcart is laden with autumn bedding plants.

Only the most inquisitive or observant visitor might pick up on the one clue that the woman behind Fulford Flowers is a little bit special.

By the till stands an unopened bottle of champagne and a card with a picture of Strictly couple Aljaz Skorjanec and Janette Manrara from their wedding day in the summer.

The card is a thank you from the glittering pair for the beautiful floral displays and bouquet Sheryl arranged for their celebrity wedding.

It was the first time Sheryl had designed a bridal bouquet without seeing the dress. That was because the gown was being made by top designer Julien Macdonald - and he wanted it kept hush-hush.

The exciting commission was just one of many for Sheryl who has earned a reputation as the go-to florist for celebs.

Sheryl with Michael Ball at York's Barbican

It's a reputation hard earned, but well deserved. Sheryl's clients read like the guest list to the Baftas and The Brits combined and include Elton John, Julie Walters, Rita Ora, Michael Ball, Paloma Faith and Eva Longoria, of Desperate Housewives fame.

Not bad for an ordinary girl from Acomb who left school at 16 with no job prospects. Sheryl had dreamt of being a ballet dancer and had won a place at the Royal Ballet, but her parents couldn't afford the fees. It was a devastating blow.

"I was completely lost. I hadn't tried at school and knew of nothing else I wanted to do," says Sheryl. "I tried lots of jobs from working in restaurants to hairdressing and beauty, but was never really happy."

In fact, Sheryl built a career from hair and beauty, opening several salons, including one on Main Street, Fulford.

"I had a few shops but the recession took the feet from under it. I was always interested in flowers. I thought: 'everybody likes flowers', so I opened a shop on a whim!"

The Fulford salon became a florist's and Sheryl had to learn the ropes fast. She hired a florist and went to flower markets early to quiz sellers about their wares. She soon discovered a passion for flowers and a natural ability for arranging them. But she didn't want to be just another flower shop. She knew she had to offer something different to stand out from her competitors.

"When the Barbican centre reopened in York I approached them about providing flowers for artists in their dressing rooms. They thought it was a great idea.

"The first artist was Paloma Faith and she put some of the flowers in her hair. We have now done flowers for her a few times and she has even thanked us on stage."

Sheryl with Peter Andre

This summer, Sheryl toured with Elton John, bringing fresh flowers and plants into his dressing room each night. Normally the flowers are made up in the shop in Fulford then delivered by van. Sheryl's husband Wayne works full-time in the business and when they are off servicing their celebrity clients, both their mums help run the shop in York.

Not surprisingly, Elton's flower requests are lavish. "He has 20 big plants and lots of flowers," says Sheryl who discreetly refuses to discuss how much they all cost. His dressing room is set up the same way for each gig and when they reach a new town, Sheryl has to visit the local flower market to buy fresh blooms to remake the displays each day. What she will reveal is that Elton detests foliage. "He hates twigs and filters – it has to be all flowers." Although she and Wayne are part of the entourage and spend lots of time in the star's dressing room, they have yet to meet him.

That is in stark contrast to most of her other famous customers - many of whom are happy to pose for a selfie or snap with Sheryl.

Her instagram is filled with famous faces pictured at glamorous events such as the Moby music awards and BBC Sports Personality of The Year gala night. It was there she met Gary Verity, who was so impressed that a Yorkshire lass was providing flowers for such a prestigious event that he booked her for his own wedding.

The fallout from the Strictly wedding has been intense. It was featured in OK magazine in August, with a front cover picture of bride and groom with Louise Redknapp and Daisy Lowe against a floral wall designed by Sheryl. In the article, Sheryl she was described as a "celebrity florist" and media interest has intensified. "I'm now talking to a TV company who want to do a fly-on-the-wall documentary series with me," she reveals.

Sheryl has experience of the TV world too - but behind the camera. She regularly provides flowers for TV sets and her work has featured on Emmerdale as well as National Treasure, which starred Julie Walters. Her flowers will be seen on upcoming dramas, including Kay Mellor's new eight-parter, Love, Lies and Records, set in a Yorkshire register office

Sheryl, who turns 40 next year, says she has to pinch herself sometimes at how her floristry career has taken off.

Sheryl and Lulu

And while outsiders may think it all sounds very glamorous, the reality is long hours and hard work.

The couple keep their feet on the ground by being based in Yorkshire. "We live in a bungalow at the top of Garrowby Hill. We live there with our dog, a Border collie called Poppie. We love being there and taking her for walks."

Out on the road, the couple get invited to gigs, award dos and weddings, and they happily attend. "Often I am getting ready in the back of the van," says Sheryl. "I always enjoy them - often I am first on the dancefloor." But when the party's over, there is still work to do. "We have to clear everything away, and sometimes finish at 5am after working a 23-hour day."

Sheryl reckons part of her appeal is her no-nonsense Yorkshire-ness. "With us, what you see is what you get, and they like that."

Of the many people she has met, Michael Ball remains a favourite. "I've met him a few times now and he even knows my name."