Hello there!
Hello! I’m Cara Rooney, an illustrator and plaything maker from Dundee. I combine bright colours and bold shapes to create children’s books, activity trails and to capture climate focussed events. Alongside my illustration work, I facilitate workshops based on my book A Little World of Ants, and through a role as Freelance Design Educator at V&A Dundee. Through all my work, I aim to encourage people to connect curiously with the world and everyone we share it with.
I love finding new ways for people to engage playfully with pictures, and exploring how they can inspire imagination, empathy and a sense of child-like wonder.
Come say hello!
For literary enquiries, please email my agent, Lucy Juckes, at lucy@jennybrownassociates.com
If you’d like to book me for reading related events and workshops, I am part of the Scottish Book Trust’s Live Literature Directory. My profile is linked here.
For other enquiries, email me at caralouiserooney@gmail.com
My CV is available to view in full here.
Join my newsletter here!
Photo by Jilly Noble
Photo by Kim Cessford
Design Lives Here
I am excited to be a part of UNESCO City of Design Dundee’s Supporter Scheme ‘Design Lives Here’, championing the UNESCO status of the city, and committing to the six principles of the Design Lives Here charter.
I have loved facilitating events and collaborating with the UNESCO team in the past, and excited to continue celebrating the spotlight it places on Dundee, and its design stories.
More information about the Design Lives Here Scheme is available here.
Achievements
First Class Honours Degree in BDes (Hons) Illustration from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design
Winner of the Macmillan Prize for Illustration 2021
Winner of Fresh Meet’s Branding Competition ‘Stand Out’
Woman to Watch in Design by Women Series
YCN Summer School Student Awards Commendation for Brief with Winsor and Newton
Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award December 2020 for Orange Beak Studio tutorials
Thomas Delgaty Dunn Award 2020 from the University of Dundee
Shortlisted for Penguin’s Student Design Award 2020 (Children’s)
One to Watch in Squarespace’s Digital Showcase at New Blood Festival 2020
Runner up in Picturehooks’ Seed to Table Competitions 1 + 2
Selection for Fresh Meet’s Nationwide Degree Show
Prize for Excellence in the Printing Arts from the University of Dundee 2018
Features + Links
Tatreez Activities with Wafa Ghnaim
Dundee City Council - Pupils Design Badge for Greenfield Academy
Glasgow Evening Times - Easterhouse children help create new Glasgow nature trail
The Courier - Illustrator’s fun book draws on world of ants
Lancashire Post - Children’s book reviews
Creative Dundee - PechaKucha Talk by Cara Rooney
It’s Nice That - Get to know the childlike portfolio of illustrator Cara Rooney
Drawing Day Blog with Wee Dundee
Creative Dundee Community Wellbeing Film
Design by Women - Woman to Watch
The Courier - Meet Cara Rooney, the Hilltown artist behind new V&A ‘Seek and Peek’ Waterfront trail
Bookseller - Cara Rooney wins Macmillan Prize for Illustration
Book Brunch - Cara Rooney wins Macmillan Prize for Illustration
The Courier - Dundee Graduate Cara Rooney wins Macmillan Prize
Fresh Meet ‘Stand Out’ Winner Feature
Print Mag’s 20 Portfolios We Love From Portfolio Day
‘Show Off’ Scottish Visual Communication Graduates Catalogue
Teran Community Feature - Nature Trails
Fresh Meet Nationwide Degree Show - Manchester One Billboard 9th - 22nd June 2020
Art Therapy Workshops
The Courier - How an Alzheimer Scotland painting class reunited a family
Police Activity Book
The Courier - DJCAD students’ new activity book is a friend for children
University of Dundee - Activity Book for Police Scotland and Children 1st