The Art of Fake Food: Scotland’s Master of Edible Illusions

Discover the quirky world of Scotland’s fake food artist, Kerry Boyes. From Hollywood sets to collectors’ shelves, find out why her inedible creations are in high demand.

There’s a store in Kirkcudbright, Scotland that sells the most mouth-watering food you’ve ever seen—except there’s a catch. It’s all fake. Yep, totally inedible. But that hasn’t stopped fake food artist Kerry Boyes from being in high demand. You might wonder, who would want to buy food you can’t eat, especially when it looks so delicious? Surprisingly, there’s a growing market for it, and Boyes is at the top of her game.

So, why would anyone purchase fake food? Well, the movie and TV industries often need props that look just like the real thing but don’t spoil, lose their shape, or create a mess on set. Sometimes, like in the Barbie movie, they want the food to look perfectly plastic but still appealing. Besides the entertainment industry, bakeries, retail shops, and other businesses also use fake food for displays. What I found most surprising, though, is that some people collect fake food for fun. It might seem odd, but it makes sense when you think about it—after all, my great aunt and uncle used to have a bowl full of fake wax fruit on their coffee table.

In the video below, A Great Big Story visits the Fake Food Workshop, where Kerry Boyes shares how she got into the business, talks about her diverse customer base, and even gives a glimpse into how she creates some of her incredibly realistic pieces.

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