Layne Halliday Biography
A Lady of Southern Refinement

Born in the Midwest, Layne Halliday grew up on an island in the sunny waters off the coast of Florida, and went to school in the south. While married to a Navy officer, Layne spent time in various states, including 30 years in Northern California.

Layne currently resides in Loveland, CO, in a home she lovingly calls Normandy.
An Unfortunate Event Leads to a New Career.

Layne got started in the miniature arts while recovering from a serious accident that occurred while horseback riding in Northern California.

After recovering, a friend told Layne about the International Guild of Miniature Artisans, and their school of miniatures in Castine, Maine. Layne attended her first class with George Hoffman in 1993 and went back annually for the next 11 years, where she learned from the very best in the business. British master miniaturist John Davenport, taught her the fine and finicky art of Marquetry, and Geoffrey Wannocott, master miniaturist, taught her to refine her skills to perfection, several times inviting her to study at his studio in England.

Passionate about the beauty of wood, Layne works with exotic woods from around the world. Her fine parquetry and marquetry miniatures, now seen at miniature shows across the country, make use of Olive burl, Ebony, Koa, Rosewood, Padauk, and many others.

Layne is now known and recognized from coast to coast for her room boxes, dollhouses and miniature furniture.
Always ready for new experiments and ideas, last year, Layne teamed with I.G.M.A. fellow Dave Pierce to create an I.G.M.A. Elements of Style room box, a "1950’s Living Room". The room box was on display in select Museums and Miniature shows over the next few months.

Recently, Layne donated one of her dollhouses to the Denver Museum of Miniatures, and 4 of her furniture pieces will soon be on display at the Tee Ridder Museum of Miniatures in New York, NY.