Some artists work with watercolours or oil paints; others use pastels or clay. Christopher Sacre creates his works from condoms and plaster.

The Kent-based artist produces hundreds of small sculptures, which he calls “babies”, by pouring liquid plaster into condoms, knotting them and leaving to set. Once the latex has been peeled away and the knotted end sliced off to give a flat base, Sacre inscribes the bottom of each sculpture with the baby’s “birth date”.

Visitors to next weekend’s Brighton Art Fair will be greeted by 500 of Sacre’s babies as they enter the Corn Exchange, in an installation specially commissioned for the fair – the largest visual art exhibition on the South Coast.

Brighton Art Fair director Jon Tutton first came across Sacre’s work at an exhibition in Margate. He and fellow organiser Sarah Young took a shine to the strangely anthro-pomorphic figures and invited Sacre to exhibit at this year’s fair.

“It’s such a simple idea,” says Tutton. “They look very good all together but when you zoom in they are very personable and characterful shapes.”

If plaster casts of condoms aren’t your thing, then rest assured there is plenty more that may appeal.

More than 120 artists will be exhibiting their work for the ninth annual fair, with everything from printmakers and painters to ceramicists, photographers and sculptors.

The appeal of the show for artists lies in the fact they can sell directly to the public, so there’s no dealer taking a cut, and that they can get instant feedback about their work. Buyers looking for a unique piece of art for their home can meet the artists and learn more about their inspirations, interests and techniques, giving the fair a very personal feel.

“Artists want to be there because there will be 5,000 or 6,000 visitors coming through over the three days and they’ll immediately get feedback on their new work,” says Tutton.

There is no set style or theme to the show – Tutton says each artist is picked for their individual talents.

“What we look for is originality and passion. It doesn’t matter what medium or style you’re working in, if you give it your best and you’re really passionate about what you do then that’s what we want to see.”

It’s clear the fair is popular with artists. The organisers received more than 400 applications for just over 100 places this year.

“In a way, the more you get, the easier it is because the best and the worst ones shine out,” explains Tutton. “The trouble is, like last year, we had 150 definites for 97 places – and the maybes were pretty good too. It’s not necessarily about their work by the time you get to that point, it’s about what the whole exhibition will look like, so there’s a balance of different types of work.”

Many of the artists exhibiting are based in Sussex, but there will be craftspeople from across the UK, and even a few from the other side of the Channel.

Among the artists Tutton recommends keeping an eye out for are Kristjana Williams, a printmaker who creates collages using Victorian imagery and Lewes-based painter Dawn Stacey’s colourful landscapes.

Buying a piece of original artwork might seem like an extravagance for some in times of budget-cutting and belt-tightening. Tutton says the recession has had an effect on sales, but not quite in the way he had expected.

“The total amount of sales has stayed the same or gone up. The average price of each sale, however, has fallen a bit. People don’t have the money but they have the will,” he says.

This may be part of a backlash against corporate homogeneity and a desire among consumers to know the origins of what they’re buying – knowing they are getting something unique that has been made with love and care.

“There’s something about the recession and the way it happened so fast that it seemed almost a punishment for greed. I think people are buying art and craft as an antidote to what happened as it’s more authentic – you’re buying from an individual and it’s a very personal thing.”

  • Corn Exchange, Church Street, Brighton, Friday, September 21, to Sunday, September 23. Open Friday 11am to 7.30pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm, and Sunday 10am to 5pm. Tickets £6, under-14s free. For more information, visit www.brightonartfair.co.uk