ideas for best finish behind stove?

hi all
currently on a self build, and in the kitchen i have a chimmney breast with a sandstone finish, now we will be installing a waterford stanley stove in the opening, with boiler and most likely a black one. my question is
what will bethe best finish behind the stove.
should i plaster the block work. or tile it. what would be best considering the area around the stove will most likely be subject to a lot of heat .
if plastered should i/ could i paint it

we plastered ours and then painted it a dark red.. it looks very well.

thanks tick tock.. think ill try that

You could call into a stove shop and have alook in a few of the brochures also.

I have red bricks behind my stove, looks great