Mick Rooney

Mick Rooney RA

Born in 1944 and studied at Sutton and Wimbledon Colleges of Art, the Royal College of Art and The British School in Rome. He has taught at several art colleges in the UK and has been Head of Painting at the Royal Academy Schools. He was elected Royal Academician in 1991.

Mick Rooney’s work strives to continue a narrative, poetic, humanistic tradition in painting. Mankind is central to his work; sometimes in stories from his own personal history, his travels and small events of the everyday. His paintings explore the inner mythologies, neurosis, dreams and secrets that are so much a part of today’s social landscape.

‘His [Rooney’s] engagement is to humanity at large; his allegiance is to art at large. His delight is in what paint can do and how it can deliver, again and again in so many different ways, what the imagination will conceive.’
Professor Norbert Lynton

He has had many solo and joint exhibitions in the UK and Europe and the USA. His work is in many public collections throughout the world including: ‘The Financial Times’, A J Kearney, London Transport, De Beers, Foundation Ralli (Punta del Este, Uruguay), the Gulbenkian Foundation and the Jerwood Foundation. Also, he has work in private collections including: Sir Paul McCartney, Michael Mann, Paul Theroux, HM Queen Elizabeth II, Royal College of Art and Barings Bank.


The Chef and the Showgirl
Oil on Canvas
20 x 16 Inches

Child's Play
Gouache Tempera
11 x 16 Inches

Passing the Monoliths
Gouache & Tempera on Paper
12 x 16 Inches

Three Figures Viewing a Bonsai Shrine
Gouache/Tempera on paper
11 x 9 inches

Fast Exit from Eden
Gouache/Tempera on paper
8 x 10 inches

Two Figures Bombarding a City
Gouache/Tempera on paper
12 x 19 inches

The Apparition
Gouache/Tempera on paper
13 x 8 inches

The Entry of the Pilgrims
Gouache/Tempera on paper
12 x 18.5 inches

Family Group at a Belvedere
Gouache/Tempera on paper
13 x 19.5 inches

Little Celebration Dance
Gouache/Tempera on paper
13 x 8 inches

Strange Audience At The Circus
Gouache/Tempera on paper
12 x 19 inches

The Hero Children Monument
Gouache/Tempera on paper
13 x 19 inches

Just Waiting
Gouache/Tempera
10 x 7.5 inches

Grand Entrance to the City
Tempera Gouache on Paper
9.5 x 8 inches

He Dreams Amongst the Coral
Tempera Gouache on Paper
9.5 x 8 inches

Language
Gouache on Tempera
10 x 7 inches

In Both Directions
Gouache/Tempera on paper
15 x 12 inches

The Dragon's Child
Gouache/Tempera on paper
10 x 8 inches

The Anniversary
Gouache/Tempera on paper
10 x 8 inches

The Hands of the Gods
Gouache/Tempera on paper
10 x 8 inches

The Fleeing Children Machine
Gouache/Tempera on paper
10 x 8 inches

Harvesting the Creature Tree
Gouache/Tempera on paper
10 x 8 inches

A Small Apocalypse with Performing Bear
Gouache/Tempera on paper
8.5 x 11.5 inches

Rudderless Ark
Gouache/Tempera on paper
11.5 x 10.5 inches

The Last of the Desert Mothers
Gouache/Tempera on paper
23 x 36 inches

From the Sea a Sprite called Emily
Gouache/Tempera on paper
26 x 20 inches

Mycology March
Oil on Canvas
12 x 10 inches

Child Before an Expectant Scene
Gouache/Tempera on paper
9.5 x 6 inches

Floating Circus
Gouache/Tempera on paper
5.5 x 8 inches

Exhausted Mother Skipping Child
Gouache on Paper
5.5 x 8 inches

First Attempt of Eden
Gouache on Paper
7 x 8.5 inches

Young Orpheus
Gouache on Paper
6 x 7.5 inches

The Kissing Fish
Gouache on Paper
10 x 7.5 inches

The Sisters Playing With Dreams
Oil on Canvas
16 x 14 inches

Detritus Dream
Gouache on Paper
9 x 7 inches

The Land Of Hide And Seek
Gouache/Tempera on paper
14 x 20 inches