Artwork
Owls
Owls is a print by Clifford Richards. It dates from 1964 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work is a silkscreen print depicting stylised owls, derived from a design originally created for a children’s wrapping paper titled “Noah’s Ark.” The image reflects the graphic aesthetic of the 1960s and was produced by designer Clifford Richards for the Polypops Products Limited range.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a group of owls rendered in bold, flat colours, evoking a playful, child‑friendly atmosphere. While the imagery does not convey a narrative beyond its decorative function, the choice of owls aligns with the whimsical, animal‑themed motifs common in mid‑century children’s merchandise.
Technique & Style
Executed as a silkscreen, the print employs the flat‑color layering and crisp outlines typical of commercial screen printing of the era. The visual language is bright, graphic and simplified, echoing the Pop Art sensibility that celebrated everyday objects and mass‑produced designs.
History & Provenance
The original design was part of Polypops’ “Noah’s Ark” wrapping paper, a product line created by the small design‑focused company Polypops Products Limited, which operated under the support of Polycell. Clifford Richards, the graphic designer, worked alongside Stephen Bartlett (furniture) and Roger Limbrick (toys) within the firm.
Context
During the 1960s, Polypops became noted for its vibrant, witty packaging and printed ephemera, contributing to the broader Pop Art movement’s embrace of commercial graphics. Richards’ work for the company is representative of the period’s shift toward bright, eye‑catching designs in consumer goods aimed at children.
Artist & collection
Artist
Clifford Richards treated printmaking like a playground—he kept a studio above a London pub, where the smell of ink mixed with stale beer.
