Artwork
Parrots
Parrots 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 a flock of parrots, originally created in the 1960s by graphic designer Clifford Richards. It derives from a pattern used on a children’s wrapping‑paper product titled “Noah’s Ark,” produced by the design‑focused company Polypops Products Limited, which operated under the sponsorship of the building‑materials brand Polycell.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents stylised, brightly coloured parrots arranged in a whimsical composition that reflects the playful spirit of mid‑century children’s merchandise. The choice of exotic birds and the lively palette convey a sense of joy and imagination, aligning with the product’s purpose as festive packaging for young audiences.
Technique & Style
Executed as a silkscreen, the print employs flat areas of saturated colour and bold outlines characteristic of Pop Art graphics. Richards’ approach combines commercial clarity with a decorative exuberance, using the screen‑printing process to achieve crisp, repeatable motifs suitable for mass‑produced paper goods.
History & Provenance
Polypops employed three designers: Clifford Richards handled graphic work, Stephen Bartlett designed furniture, and Roger Limbrick created toys. Richards’ graphics, including this parrots design, became part of a celebrated series of 1960s packaging and printed ephemera that remain noted for their vivid, witty aesthetic. The print continues to circulate as an example of the era’s commercial art.
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.
