From Ayrshire to Abbey Road: Crafting the 2023 Music Photography Awards Trophies

Prestwick artist Gordon Brown, known for his unique fusion of graffiti, tags, and evocative imagery, has been commissioned by the legendary Abbey Road Studios to design and create a collection of ten trophies for the globally renowned Music Photography Awards 2023. These exclusive awards, each crafted using archive reels from Abbey Road Studios, were presented to the winners on September 21, 2023, marking a historic union of music and art.

Gordon, who operates under the moniker Urban Punkz, hails from Prestwick, Ayrshire, and has gained recognition for his ability to blend urban and contemporary art forms with a powerful visual narrative. The trophies he crafted for the Music Photography Awards 2023 are a testament to his innovative approach. Each of these exceptional awards is a fusion of historic and modern recording systems within Abbey Road Studios, interwoven with photographs of graffiti, tags, and vandalized areas from around the world, including some captured within the local area, such as the Alloway Tunnel. Urban Punkz’s creative process also involves hand embellishing parts of the trophies with spray paint, infusing them with a unique blend of artistic expression.

Abbey Road Studios, celebrated as the world’s foremost recording studio and an enduring symbol of musical innovation and creativity, selected Urban Punkz to infuse his unique artistic vision into the creation of these prestigious awards.

About the Music Photography Awards

The Music Photography Awards (MPA), organized annually by Abbey Road Studios, stand as a testament to the enduring connection between music and visual artistry. This esteemed competition extends an invitation to photographers from around the globe, beckoning them to capture the very essence of music through the lens of their cameras.

Gordon Brown (Urban Punkz): “I am profoundly honoured to have been chosen by Abbey Road Studios to craft the trophies for the Music Photography Awards 2023. This project represents the perfect fusion of my passion for art, my admiration for the world of music, and my reverence for the art of photography. Each trophy embodies the spirit of creative collaboration.”

Making of the Trophies