This is one of three large spiral paintings and is related to a number of smaller spiral works. Frost has incorporated discs and spirals, evoking the sun, into his paintings since the 1950s. Here, the title stands for Red, Black and White for Arizona. Frost made this painting following a trip to the United States and the letter A also refers to his son, Adrian, who was with him in the Arizona desert. Frost has commented 'I found the desert not as I believed it to be... Arizona was full of cacti in bloom, with spirals of colour everywhere; it was a totally different excitement that I hadn't experienced before.'