The Be Local, Buy Local campaign by Brighton and Hove City Council and The Argus to help businesses has been given an artistic twist.

About 1,500 artists from the city, many who take part in the annual Open Houses exhibition, have become the latest to give their backing to the initiative.

The Be Local Buy Local campaign has been set up to support the city’s businesses, urging all residents to spend at least half of their shopping money with local firms and organisations to keep Brighton and Hove thriving.

More than 200 companies have signed up to the challenge and will be getting their supplies from others in the area whenever they can.

Pledge Now the council wants to get its first 1,000 residents to pledge their support, with 180 already on board.

The news that the city’s artists have come forward is an important boost.

Karren Urben, from Patcham, who exhibits her work as part of the Open Houses programme of free exhibitions, said: “It’s important to support a campaign like this.

I always try to buy my materials locally and go to independent shops whenever it is possible.

“Hopefully people will support the local art community as well.

There is a fantastic range of talented artists in Brighton and Hove producing paintings, sculptures, jewellery and all sorts of art so there is really something for everyone.

“It’s important for us to sell because it is our job.

If someone buys from us we then spend more in the local shops and the whole cycle carries on.”

About 70 artists’ houses will be open for three weekends in the run-up to Christmas, from the last weekend in November.

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Mary Mears has reinforced the importance of the campaign and said supporting local artists would help continue to foster creativity in the city.

She said: “It’s often said that shopping is not like it used to be.

In the good old days, you knew your shopkeepers by name, they offered great service and valued a personal relationship with customers.

“But in hundreds of Brighton and Hove shops that era is alive and well.

We have some 350 independent shops – the biggest chain-free sector in the South East.

“With forecasters predicting the economic recovery will be slow, the council is redoubling efforts to help these local businesses – and not just shops but all sorts of services and tradespeople too.”

She reminded residents that buying locally supported local jobs and wages as well as unique shops and businesses and also meant decisions affecting the area were being made locally, not by outside companies.

The council is running several other initiatives to help local businesses, including a recession relief package helping firms to spread rate and rent payments across the year, paying its own bills more quickly and writing to banks urging them to take a sympathetic line with small firms.