"Freston Road poster" [NMLH.2025.37.70]

Catalogue Number
NMLH.2025.37.70

Object Name
Poster

Title
Freston Road Area - Let the People Choose

Place
Paddington Printshop, London; Freston Road Area

People
Paddington Printshop; Freston Road Area

Date
1977

Description
Screenprinted poster, "Freston Road Area - Let the People Choose" in red graffiti-style writing. A greyscale photocollage fills the whole poster, of a brick factory building in the background, a tip of tyres, car parts and miscellaneous rubbish in front. On top are two cut outs of people, an older white man in the bottom left with a thought bubble containing a rose. On the right side is a younger man sat thinking, the thought bubble containing a person rollerskating up a ramp, wearing a helmet. The thought bubbles are a bright yellow, popping out of the greyscale background. The sky at the top is the same yellow.

This poster was made by Paddington Printshop, a community graphic design and print workshop in West London, co-founded by John Phillips and Pippa Smith. Between 1975-1991, the centre printed over 400 designs for left-wing community organisations. These publicised local political campaigns such as housing rights and food co-ops, to social gatherings including play days, gardening clubs, gigs and festivals. Their do-it-yourself style was part of the proto-punk ethos.

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