Carla’s internet doodles bemuse Sarah Brown

French first lady Carla Bruni has launched her own website, designed to raise awareness of her work and the charities she supports. But most of the attention has focused on the bizarre sketches of seemingly random celebrities that litter the site.

Among the subjects whose likenesses appear on the pages is Sarah Brown, wife of PM Gordon, who said she was left "bemused" after seeing her portrait.

She is in good company. Also pictured - and presumably bemused - are politicians of the calibre of Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama; rock stars like Bono and Lou Reed; and various other celebs including John Galliano and David Lynch.

Bruni’s husband Nicolas Sarkozy also features - although he has had his ears and nose reduced and has been blessed with a wider jaw than in real life. His portrait has been described as looking like "a police composite of a wanted criminal" and resembling "a handsome film star of half his age."

The line drawings were provided by artist Alice Dechelette. After visiting the site Sarah Brown commented on Twitter: "Love Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's new website though bit bemused by illustration of me." She later clarified her position: "Bemused in a good way - I think it's really cool."

The site proved so popular when it was launched on Tuesday that it crashed. Some of the subjects pictured in the gallery may wish it had stayed that way.