The exhibition, called Between The Piers For Years - A Work In Progress, was completed in eight weeks and documents the people of Brighton.

That includes everyone from bus drivers and students to fishermen and Fatboy Slim.

The idea for the project was the result of John Easterby, of the Magnum Photographic Agency, who realised Brighton had never been properly documented, and was interested in the city's growing status as the "place to be" and the effect on people.

Alexis Maryon's worry is that Brighton is becoming a city of two halves that will never meet: "I love this town and, of course, if you love something you worry about it."

Everyone photographed chose their own location and was asked the question: "Is Brighton the place to be?"

Their answers are seen below the portrayals and range from the quirky to Brighton's heritage.

Gilly Smith, author of the Juicy Guide, lies on the grass in Sussex Square Gardens with her family. For her, "Brighton is for grown-ups who don't want to grow up any more".

Two fisherman at sea say: "Yes, because you can't catch cod in Rotherham."

One of the most compositionally distinguished images is Angels Of The South, in which two men on Kemp Town's nudist beach stand on the shore with their arms stretched out to the side and cast a single shadow that mimics Anthony Gormley's Angel Of The North, which stands by the A1 near Gateshead.

Jonathan, a retailer and painter and half of this angel shadow, answers Maryon's question with: "Yes, sometimes it's warm enough to take all your clothes off and run naked on the beach."

Norma Binnie, of the West Pier Trust, stands on the walkway of the pier. Her answer is a resounding: "Yes, because it has the best pier in the west."

Unfortunately, one of Maryon's potentially most interesting subjects, and someone whom he greatly admires, turned down the offer to be snapped.

Julie Burchill's response when approached was: "Thanks very much for asking me but I'm a bit bored with the cult of me."

The pictures testify the diversity of characters Brighton attracts and reflect the roots people have in Brighton, whether they were born here or have come to see it as home later in life.

Maryon plans to continue the project and hopes to transform it into a book.

The pictures are for sale. Call 07971 273389.