Watching hordes of people trample through your home is not everyone's idea of fun.

But for potter Sylph Baier, it will be more than worth it. She is one of the legions of artists busy with final preparations for the Open Houses arm of the Brighton Festival.

Started in 1982, the opportunity for thousands of artists to put their work on display in their own homes has been championed as the perfect way to make art accessible to the public.

Sylph, 32, of Florence Road, Brighton, said: "The fact that these works are being displayed in a domestic setting is part of the whole ethos.

"It is more than just an opportunity for people to come and see the art.

"I think it is important to create a beautiful environment for people to be in and we try to tie in all the works with the setting.

"Even the sofa is being used as a place for exhibiting some of the pieces. It is very time consuming and involves a lot of preparation."

There are nine main Open House groups, which cover different areas of the city, although artists also open their houses independently.

Sylph, a member of the Fiveways Artists Group, said: "It brings people together. It also makes things more accessible as we all tend to live behind closed doors and lead very private lives.

"It gives the whole thing a community feeling and I just love working with other people."

For more details about Sylph's exhibition, log on to www.fiveways artists.com.

The Open Houses are also listed in the festival brochure, which are available at locations around the city centre.

Alternatively, log on to www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk.