Charlotte Mercury Prize
Newcastle University student creates unique art for Mercury Prize
Published on: 15 October 2025
A Fine Art student has been commissioned to provide 12 pieces of artwork as part of this year’s Mercury Prize 2025.
Miniature artworks
Charlotte Brecken, a fourth year Fine Art student at Newcastle University, has been given this unique opportunity as the prestigious music prize is hosted in the city, the first time in its history it has been held outside London.
Charlotte who specialises in miniature artworks, has created versions of each album’s cover art on rail tickets which will be presented to the 12 shortlisted artists. The artworks have been used as part of the wider Mercury Prize fringe events which have been taking place across the region, and across social media in the run up to the main event at the city’s Utilita Arena, Newcastle on Thursday 16th October.
Charlotte, who started running her own art business Lottivics Art when she was studying for her GCSEs, is thrilled to be given this opportunity to showcase her artwork. “I can’t believe out of all the talented artists here in the Northeast that I have been chosen,” she said. “This is a dream come true for me, especially knowing that my artwork will ultimately be given to the individual artists whose albums have been shortlisted.”
Charlotte has had previous artwork shown at the Royal Academy of Art, London; Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and other galleries and exhibitions around the North East. In the past she has used Tyne and Wear Metro tickets, shells, and stamps as the canvas for her artworks, and this time is no different. Her work is just as intricate on an unusual canvas. She added: “Each of the 12 pieces of art are in keeping with my miniature style and I can’t wait to see people’s reactions”.
