This carpenter’s tool is usually associated with cutting through wood rather than making sweet music.

But for Kate Shields, the saw has become the latest musical instrument for which she has a passion.

The 27-year-old illustrator, of Elm Grove, Brighton, can be found performing with her saw at burlesque and cabaret shows in the city and London.

Despite the cold weather she has even been known to busk with another saw-playing friend in Pavilion Gardens.

Miss Shields takes her inspiration from 1920s burlesque where saw-playing was a popular pastime.

Film star Marlene Dietrich was apparently also a fan of playing the saw.

Miss Shields is the proud owner of a musical saw, which is specifically made to be played as an instrument, but a normal saw will also suffice – and the bigger it is, the better.

She said: “I started playing in March. It was quite a hassle trying to find a musical saw but they do sell them in Brighton. However, you can use a normal saw.”

The saw is played with a bow, like a cello or a violin, and Miss Shields said the trick is to bend the saw into an S-shape so you can get the best possible sound.

Her repertoire includes Christmas carols and Ave Maria but she is keen to learnmore andwould like to meet other saw players to create her very own sawchestra.

She said: “The sound of the saw is like nothing on Earth but I suppose the nearest instrument it sounds like is the theremin.

“The saw is more interesting though.”

Miss Shields can also play the guitar, cello and violin and she used to play the erhu, known as the Chinese violin.

She said: “I only have one saw at the moment but I havemy eyes on a bigger one because you can get more notes out of them.”

Miss Shields spent her summer aboard the Hendrick’s Horseless Carriage of Curiosities, travelling to festivals and playing her musical saw.