Published: Friday, 6th November, 2009 1:00pm

The cutting edge of art

by Alan Bunce

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A RARE form of art is helping Sarah Goddard thrive during the recession.

Former St Joseph's student Sarah, 32, is a silhouettist, one of only six known to operate in the UK and business is so good this year it has put last year in the shadows. In 2009 she is running at double the amount of work she did in 2008.

Sarah, who lives just off Caversham Road, uses just a pair of scissors and black paper and - with no drawn outline - can reproduce a person's silhouette in about a minute.

She works at parties, wedding and corporate functions and some of the high profile work she has done includes a Christmas party for Prince Charles at St James' Palace, a party for Dawn French and Lenny Henry and a Christmas Party at the House of Commons.

Sarah became a silhouettist after she finished studying art at university in Kent.

But there are no courses in silhouette work so she taught herself. The reactions she gets have generally been of amazement.

She said: "They usually say, 'Oh my God, how can you do that?'.You get a different reaction every time."

She said weddings accounts for much of the increase in work. Guests love seeing their silhouettes and Sarah loves working at parties. She added: "It takes about a minute, it's just a natural ability I suppose."

She also does special commissions and is now taking bookings for Christmas parties as corporate work picks up for the festive season.

For corporate events Sarah cuts silhouettes of guests which are presented to them in a card branded with the firm's logo, also in silhouette.

She said: "They make a unique way to brand your company."

Visit www.visagesilhouettes.co.uk