A JEWELLER has been selected by renowned architect Zaha Hadid to appear in a high profile showcase of British talent.

Brighton-based artist-jeweller Jo McDonald will showcase a poignant collection which pays tribute to her Jewish grandmother-in-law who narrowly escaped extermination by the Nazis.

Zaha Hadid Selects, features 20 highlight pieces from this year’s Goldsmiths’ Fair, and is the UK’s most exciting showcase of contemporary jewellery and silver.

Hadid was won over by Jo McDonald’s white Porcelain ring with gold and rough diamond detail.

The fair will be held in London’s Goldsmiths’ Hall from September 22 to October 5 and brings together 170 of Britain’s finest artist-makers and is expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors.

At Goldsmiths’ Fair, Jo will unveil ‘Claude Collection’, which combines lapis blue porcelain and blue sapphires, and is inspired by a remarkable WWII family survival story.

Jo’s grandmother-in-law Claude Clark was from a family of Jewish Parisian diamond dealers who fled the Nazis by bribing the Gestapo.

She fled to Nice with her mother but the rest of her family perished in Auschwitz.

Before she died in 2004 Claude gave Jo the last of her gems in their original packets, including hundreds rubies and sapphires.

Inspired by their blue tones Jo designed the collection, incorporating a lapis blue pendant with gold cap encrusted in sapphires plus earrings, bangles and a ring.

Jo previously worked for Madame Tussauds and now works in Brighton where she handcrafts and finishes each piece.