David Shrigley, Be Nice, 2017

Be Nice (2017) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Published in 2017, Be Nice is a remarkably vibrant 15 colour screenprint that exemplifies David Shrigley’s distinctive blend of deadpan instruction and graphic simplicity. The composition centres on a monumental, multi-coloured striped archway rising from a flat, neutral grey background, rendered in a sequence of bold, saturated hues including vivid pinks, deep blues, and brilliant yellows. Written in the artist's signature hand-drawn typography, the titular command "Be Nice" sits directly upon this rainbow-like structure, transforming a basic moral instruction into a physical, sculptural presence.

By placing such a fundamental social expectation inside a cartoonish, striped monolith, the work operates as a piece of pointed social observation on the childlike simplicity of human ethics. The sheer scale and bright, naive colouration of the central form contrast sharply with the plain grey backdrop, highlighting how basic rules of decency are often isolated and ignored in complex modern societies. Through this juxtaposition, the work strips away the nuances of interpersonal conflict, leaving the viewer with an undeniable, humorous, and impossibly cheerful demand.

David Shrigley

Renowned for his biting wit and deceptively crude drawing style, the celebrated British artist David Shrigley was nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013 and famously occupied the Fourth Plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square with his monumental bronze sculpture, Really Good. His celebrated practice spans drawing, sculpture, and public installation, securing him a permanent place in prestigious institutions such as the Tate and the British Council Collection.

Translating his immediate, raw ink drawings into highly refined graphic works has become a cornerstone of his contemporary output. Each David Shrigley print acts as a subversive mirror to daily life, capturing the anxieties and absurdities of the modern condition with unparalleled graphic economy. By elevating these quick, diary-like observations into meticulously produced multiples, he bridges the gap between high art and democratic commentary.

Screenprint Process

Produced in collaboration with London’s esteemed print studio Jealous Gallery, the production of this edition prioritised the highest standards of contemporary screenprinting. Utilizing fifteen distinct colour layers on heavy Somerset tub sized 410gsm paper, the printing process achieves a tactile depth and incredibly flat, saturated ink coverage. This specific paper choice ensures the dense pigment layers sit proudly on the surface, preserving the intense contrast between the vibrant central motif and the subtle grey background.

Hand-printing at Jealous Gallery allowed the printers to perfectly capture the tactile qualities of the original hand-drawn lines, preserving every subtle imperfection of the lettering. This meticulous approach ensures that each David Shrigley limited edition print retains the immediate, personal energy of his drawing books while achieving the physical presence of a gallery-scale painting. The resulting edition represents a flawless marriage of playful conceptualism and master-level printmaking.

Collectability

Works that feature direct, text-based commands and positive yet sarcastic messaging have consistently commanded the highest levels of collector interest on the secondary market. The universal appeal of this particular imagery, combined with its distinct graphic confidence, makes it instantly recognisable to global art enthusiasts.

Representing a major colour work from his highly active 2017 publishing period, Be Nice remains a particularly desirable example of the artist's output. With an edition size of just 125, the print has enjoyed a strong secondary-market presence and continued appeal among seasoned collectors seeking to acquire his most visually arresting text-based works.