CATHERINE Murtagh isn't the kind of woman to let obstacles stand in her way.

After all, she's headed Bafta Scotland and successfully introduced the Film City studio complex in Govan to the world, all the while running her own creative consultancy business.

So when she set her sights on bringing Red or Dead founder Wayne Hemingway's ultra-hip Vintage extravaganza from London to Scotland for the first time, she wasn't going to be blinded by numbers.

Not even seven figure ones.

"Wayne Hemingway has been approached by people all over the world to do this," said Catherine.

"When we were talking money he said, 'you'll probably need an investment of £1million' – I think that was just to try and put me off, but it didn't.

"I just said OK, that's fine."

That conversation took place in October 2011. A few months of research later, Catherine sent over a package outlining her bid.

"We sent the proposal and, within about four hours, Wayne was on the phone saying let's try and do it," recalls the mum of three, who lives in Newton Mearns.

"We were just ecstatic. But then the hard work began."

In the last 21 months, Catherine and her team have pulled together all the strands that will turn back the clock on next week's Merchant City Festival like never before.

The Vintage Glasgow hub at the City Halls – which will become home to glamorous club nights at the Old Fruitmarket, fashion shows, free cinema screenings and dance classes – will spill out on to the streets with classic cars on Candleriggs and a vintage market on Ingram Street.

The Grand Hall's big screen will show a full film programme, including footage of Glasgow's Empire Exhibition to mark its 75th anniversary.

Visitors will be able to have retro makeovers performed by a team of 30 hairstylists and make-up artists in a makeshift salon in the Scottish Music Centre.

The aim is to immerse 100,000 people in Wayne and his wife Gerardine's Vintage vision over the course of next weekend – a tally of visitors that would effectively double the number of attendees at last year's Merchant City Festival.

The event, which began life at Goodwood House in Sussex in 2010, now regularly attracts of over 150,000 to the Southbank Centre in London.

And when Catherine watched footage of previous events, she realised that the broad appeal would be a key selling point.

"You could go with your mum, your granny, you could bring your kids along to it. I loved that," said Catherine.

"I loved that people dressed up.

Catherine's creative consultancy The DollsHouse, which she founded 10 years ago, was given the green-light to stage the event in January.

She has since worked closely with Glasgow City Marketing Bureau to attract people from across the UK to the event.

Born and bred in Clarkston on the South Side of Glasgow, Catherine said her love of all things vintage came from growing up in a creative household.

Her singer father, Andy Scott, a member of close harmony trio The Singing Scott Brothers, travelled around the country for gigs.

Weekends as a family were often spent scouring the Barras for bargains.

"My grandmother was really into fashion in a big way," said Catherine.

"She didn't have a lot of money, but was always absolutely immaculate and beautifully-dressed.

"I was always quite fascinated by the way she and my great aunts always looked so glamorous.

"Even when they got older they always had amazing hats, coats and stoles."

Catherine, who has previously worked with the Communicado Theatre Company and Edinburgh's Royal Lyceum Theatre, now can't wait to bring a slice of vintage drama to Glasgow.

l Vintage Glasgow, part of the Merchant City Festival, will take place on Saturday and Sunday July 27-28. See the full programme at www.merchantcityfestival.com