Parking outside a supermarket can lead to panic on the way back to your vehicle as you try to work out where you actually parked the thing. Imagine, then, how much of a funk you would get into if you had painted your car to look as though it was invisible. That’s what Sara Watson, a student at the University of Central Lancashire in England has done – as part of her art course, before you start wondering why someone would do such a thing. As art cars go, it is an incredible first attempt.

Sara began by procuring a battered old Skoda Fabia from local recycling charity Recycling Lives and parked the car outside her studio. In a car park with lines criss-crossing it, against a background featuring a brick wall, windows and doors, she then painted the car all over in such a way that it literally seems to disappear – and whether seen with the naked eye or in photographs, the overall effect is somewhat eerie, with onlookers having stopped dead in the street sensing that there is something there but not seeing it. Some have in fact walked straight into the car. Sara has now been featured in national media and her work has gone international with TV news outlets showing her work.

OK, so it won’t work from every angle, but considering that this type of illusion artwork has only been practiced on flat surfaces up until now, it is still hugely impressive – we ca safely assume that Sara will receive very high marks on the project.