Tiles need to go onto a perfectly flat surface, I doubt the bricks would be anything like flat enough. Aquapanel or Hardibacker board is probably best for what you want, you tile straight onto it with no need to plaster.

http://www.pureadhesion.co.uk/category/37/hardi-backer-boards

If you only want part of the wall tiled and the rest painted then you could use plasterboard which you would bond to the wall with board adhesive. Then there is no need to plaster the plasterboard where it will be tiled, you can tile straight onto plasterboard once it is sealed.