The St Austell-based company, which specialises in reprographic work for high-end magazines, won the award in part due to its work on the 20th anniversary edition of men's title GQ.

Artwork on the cover, which featured a close-up photograph of footballer David Beckham, was produced using MetalFX's gold effect.

PHMedia director Ralph Wills told PrintWeek that the company had submitted several suggestions to publisher Condé Nast for the special edition cover. He credited the high quality of the 12-staff company’s work with the MetalFX gold for the award.

He said: "It was a groundbreaking project to work on and it is no more than the staff deserve.

"We have a very prestigious client base and the work that we do reflects this. To win what is a global award is a real honour."

PHMedia produces pre-press work for 44 titles a month for clients including Design Week, Creative Review, and the British Museum.

Metallic colour specialist MetalFX announced this years winners but confirmed that the 2008 awards would be the last, following the company's decision to close announced earlier this month.

A message on the group's website said: "We are pleased to announce the winners of this year's competition but also sad that this will be our last in light of the current news that the business will close on 19 December.

"We hope that you continue to produce outstanding work using the MetalFX technology that you have adopted."