Lyme Regis jeweller Natalie Manifold has been shortlisted for an ‘Oscar’ of the jewellery world.

Ms Manifold, who runs the jewellery brand Seraga England has been shortlisted for UK Jewellery Awards Emerging Jewellery Designer of the Year 2024.

The UK Jewellery Awards 2024 will be hosted on Wednesday, June 26 at Old Billingsgate in London.

"It’s a huge achievement to have received this nomination", she said. "The awards are known as the Oscars of the jewellery world".

She became a jeweller when she couldn’t find the jewellery she wanted to wear for her wedding.

At that point, she said her eyes were opened to the vast world of jewellery that exists beyond the high street brands.

The name Seraga comes from the name of her father, Serag, a Coptic Egyptian.

He led Natalie through the early part of her life, encouraging her talents to flourish and so it felt appropriate to name the company after him and the ancestry that has inspired her.

In ancient Egypt, jewellery was of huge importance, as was gold and other riches.

Where possible, she tries to combine the luxury of these ancient jewels with the wonder of the natural world, such as ancient British woodland.