May 22nd 2024.
Kerry Samantha Boyes has always had a passion for creating things. Growing up in the scenic North Pennines, she spent countless hours exploring the hills and observing the local wildlife. However, when she wasn't outside, she could often be found in her father's woodworking studio, learning the art of crafting.
It wasn't until Kerry began working with Scotland's renowned taxidermist, George Jameison, that she discovered her love for making replicas. Little did she know that this training would come in handy when she came up with the idea to create incredibly lifelike sculptures of food during the lockdown.
From delectable cakes and pies to savory Scottish breakfasts and historical banquet dishes, Kerry's replicas have garnered high demand. She shared, "I've spent many years perfecting the art of replication. It all started when I began my career on Hadrian's Wall, creating facsimiles of Roman altar stones and painting frescos for the Vindolanda Museum. Later on, I studied museums and worked for English Heritage, taking care of their collection. Eventually, I moved to Edinburgh and trained under George Jameison, the talented taxidermist in Cramond."
Taxidermy, Kerry explained, is another form of replication, where one strives to replicate life in its still form. "It's a complex and intricate art that involves removing the skin, studying and rebuilding the body's form, and skillfully positioning the treated skin over the sculpted body or head. My training in taxidermy has given me a deep understanding of animal anatomy, which comes in handy when creating replicas of animals for banquet displays, such as a roast-sucking pig or goose."
Now, for the first time, Kerry is opening the doors of her studio in Kirkcudbright to the public, where she works alongside her daughter Primrose. Together, they are creating the UK's first Fake Food Store, complete with Victorian counters and display cupboards, as part of this year's Spring Fling. Spring Fling, a premier open studios weekend in Scotland, will feature a record-breaking 104 participants across Dumfries and Galloway from May 25-27.
Kerry, whose studio overlooks Kirkcudbright's fishing harbor, started her business on her kitchen table during the pandemic, inspired by a classic book. She shared, "I bought a copy of Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management and was captivated by the lithographs of all the dishes she made. I thought it would be fun to see if I could recreate some of them. Then, while browsing similar items online, I had the idea to make and sell them. I started a small online store, and before I knew it, I was receiving orders from all over the world."
Last year, Kerry's raspberry ripple ice creams were featured in the opening beach scenes of the Hollywood blockbuster, Barbie. And more recently, she was asked to create a jelly with a replica gun inside for a party hosted by the creators of the hit Netflix series, The Gentlemen. Her clientele includes big names like Disney, Guggenheim Museum, Royal Worcester Museum, National Trust for Scotland, Jo Malone, Royal Lyceum Theatre, and Heinz. Kerry shared, "I received a call from Warner Bros, who had seen my ice cream products. It was thrilling to tell my children that my products were going to be featured in the Barbie movie. They even went to the cinema to watch the film with fake ice creams. I also had the opportunity to create a selection of work for the Netflix premiere of The Gentleman. Inca Productions requested a gun in a jelly, as well as various pies and cheeses. The process of encapsulating a gun in jelly was challenging, involving multiple pours of resin, but the end result was a success, and they were delighted."
Kerry's fake food has become a hit with a wide range of businesses, including shops, stately homes, museums, restaurants, and even theme parks. It has also gained popularity among the public, with many using it as quirky and attractive home decorations. She shared, "Sometimes, the simplest things can be the most complicated to make, such as a cucumber sandwich. The bread needs to look light and fluffy, the cream cheese should be smooth and creamy, and the cucumbers must appear fresh. Mastering the combination of textures is one of the biggest challenges. Depending on the product, we often take molds of real food using silicone and then cast them in resins, clays, or jesmonite."
Aside from Kerry's studio, Spring Fling visitors can expect to see a diverse range of artworks, including paintings, sculptures, photography, prints, metalwork, furniture, jewelry, and textiles, among others. This event is an opportunity to meet and interact with talented artists and makers in their unique studios, ranging from farmhouses to painted caravans, in one of Scotland's most beautiful rural regions.
Joanna Jones, Assistant Director of Upland, expressed, "Kerry's fake food shop perfectly showcases the incredible range of artists and makers we have in Dumfries and Galloway." To read more exciting news stories like this, be sure to subscribe to the latest issue of Scottish Field.
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