HERITAGE
A Creative Childhood
Marnie comes from a long line of artists and artisans, with her father, grandfather, and great-uncle (David Labkovski) filling her childhood home with inspiring artworks.
Encouraged to paint, draw, sculpt, and collage from an early age, her favourite gifts included a tabletop loom, a potter’s wheel, and a subscription to Fiber Arts magazine.
Inspired by Nature
As a free-spirited child, Marnie spent hours exploring the natural world—lifting rocks in search of salamanders, combing the beach for shells, and waiting patiently for butterflies to land in the garden. This love of nature continues to inform her creative practice.
EDUCATION
Design Education and Training
While her father and sister pursued art and interior design, Marnie combined creativity with design in her own studies. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Design from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now Thomas Jefferson University).
Having won several design competitions while studying, Marnie was accepted onto the international exchange programme at the Scottish College of Textiles (now Heriot-Watt University, School of Textiles and Design), based in Galashiels, Scottish Borders.
CAREER
A Life-Changing Year in Scotland
Spending a year in Galashiels at the age of 18 was life changing. Marnie was greatly inspired by the Scottish countryside, the Scottish culture and textile heritage, and the sense of humour of its people. By the time she left Scotland to return to Philadelphia to finish her degree, she had fallen in love with the place and her Scottish husband.
Building a Creative Business
Upon graduation, Marnie lived and worked in NYC as a textile designer before being reunited with her Scottish love (and love of Scotland). Married in 1988, Marnie and husband Norrie set up home, and in 1990, established a hand-painted wallpaper business together (Decoupage), in Galashiels, Scotland.
Marnie was Artistic Director and Marketing Manager for the business until it closed in 2018. Decoupage wallpaper was a thriving business which focussed on artisanship and sustainability. The handmade wallpapers sold nationally and internationally by the UK’s top commercial wall covering distributors, thus giving Marnie three decades of experience working with interior designers on bespoke commissions.
TEACHING
Inspiring Others
In 2003, Marnie was delighted to be hired part-time as an Assistant Professor in Textile Design at Heriot-Watt University’s, School of Textiles and Design. She has worked there continuously since then, becoming the Programme Director for HWU’s BA (Hons) Design for Textiles programme in 2022.
Realising her dream of inspiring others to develop their creativity and become confident design practitioners has been very fulfilling. Lecturing, researching and travelling via this role has been an enriching experience for Marnie, and she continues to enjoy sharing her knowledge and expertise with others as they work towards fulfilling their creative potential.
FAMILY
Life Today
Marnie and Norrie have three wonderful sons, Kyle, Jamie and Ruidi and are proud grandparents to their granddaughter Liliana.
Family life, alongside her creative and academic work, continues to inspire her every day.
With Gratitude
THIS JOURNEY IS NEVER A SOLO ONE
‘I am deeply grateful to my son Ruidi Collins for capturing my work and process on film, to Tina Sørensen for her beautiful photography, and to Amy Miskelly for her thoughtful branding and website design.
Most of all, I thank my husband Norrie and our sons Kyle, Jamie and Ruidi, for their endless love, encouragement, and support — and all my amazing friends and family who support me on every step of the way.
Special thanks also to South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) for their support in part-funding the development of this website.’