Introducing Charles

Silhouettist Charles Burns is the UK’s premier exponent of the old English art of making silhouette portraits.

After leaving art college Charles began his career as a street artist in Covent Garden, just a stone’s throw from the hotel, drawing portraits for tourists. During this inauspicious beginning he taught himself to cut silhouettes because “nobody else seemed to be doing it”.

Today Charles is a well-known figure making appearances at some of London’s most elegant high-society events. He three times cut the portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth, as well as silhouettes of both current monarchs.