An artist is putting his unwanted paintings up for auction - and is threatening to shoot any which fail to sell.

Matt Pagett, of Albert Road, Brighton, is exhibiting a series of paintings of animals in unfamiliar surroundings, at Cafe One Ten in Dyke Road, Brighton.

They include pictures of mountain goats in bedrooms, Arctic landscapes and airports and an elephant playing with a traffic cone.

He is inviting people to bid for their favourites, with regular updates on his web site and at the cafe on how the offers are progressing.

But he is so sick of having the pictures hanging around his flat, he is determined to get rid of them all, whether they sell or not.

He has told friends he feels like firing a gun to destroy any unwanted artwork after the exhibition ends on November 9.

Matt, 31, said: "These paintings have all been hanging around for a year or so and I need the space in my flat so I'm determined to get rid of them.

"I don't have a gun so I'm not quite sure how I would go through with shooting them - maybe a water pistol would do.

"My friends have been urging me this weekend not to shoot them but it seemed a dramatic way to get rid of them. I'll see how I feel when the exhibition ends. I might surprise people at Brighton railway station by handing them out for free."

He is keen to encourage people to have an interactive relationship with his work but insists any similarity to reality TV voting shows Pop Idol or Big Brother is accidental.

He said: "I haven't got a television and haven't watched one for about three months now, though I gather a lot of shows are getting more interactive.

"I just want people to enjoy the artwork but also get involved with it in a fun way."

The exhibition comprises 16 paintings measuring 25sqcm and three larger examples.

Matt said: "They've all got animals in them, that's become quite a good theme for me. I like mixing animals with unusual situations like streets, teenagers' bedrooms and back gardens, places you wouldn't normally expect to see them."

Matt has also designed his own range of crockery and tea towels and illustrated books, such as the recently-published Household Management For Men.

Bidding forms are available in the cafe, while offers can also be made through Matt's web site, www.sweatandcigarettes.com