Hello! I’m Cara Rooney an illustrator and plaything maker from Dundee. In my work, I love to portray a sense of child-like curiosity in interactive children's books, activity books and workshops. I was recently awarded the Macmillan Prize for Illustration 2021 for my interactive illustrated book, ‘ants’.
I also work part-time for Alzheimer Scotland, facilitating online art therapy workshops during lockdown. The sessions are designed to give people the opportunity to learn a new skill during a stagnant time shielding and counteract the sense of isolation so many are experiencing.
Email me at caralouiserooney@gmail.com
Projects
- Scottish Landmarks Painting WorkshopThe second art group with Alzheimer Scotland was inspired by Burns' celebrations. Each participant chose a Scottish landmark to paint and during weekly sessions we added to our paintings. The sessions were to counteract feelings of isolation and to give participants' weeks a focus.
- Fresh Meet 'Stand Out' CompetitionMy winning entry to Fresh Meet's personal branding competition 'Stand Out'. The competition encouraged creative graduated to develop branding true to their practice, in order to be better prepared to gain creative work. I developed an designs for my invoices, logo, website and mailers.
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Projects credited in
- Nationwide Degree Show: The WinnersThis project showcases the winners and results of the Nationwide Degree Show! We put together a Nationwide Degree Show to help graduating creatives showcase their work as all the degree shows were being cancelled.25
- Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of Dundee, BDes (Hons) IllustrationTo be an illustrator is to be a problem solver, taking an idea from a client and turning it into something visual that can communicate in a visual world. From the outset, our students experience different aspects of an illustration practitioner’s daily life, working to tight deadlines and to industry briefs as they discover their own way of generating creative solutions to make hardworking pictures. The illustration course at Duncan of Jordanstone exemplifies how students can shape their pract12
Work history
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Art Therapy Workshop FacilitatorAlzheimer Scotland
Dundee, United KingdomPart Time
-Lockdown changed my job role significantly as no in-person services allowed
-Began facilitating digital therapeutic art activities in which each person would create a painting of a place special to them
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Day Service OrganiserAlzheimer Scotland
Dundee, United KingdomPart Time
- Facilitating the day service for people with dementia on a Saturday
- Consisted of organising activities and arrangements within the service
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Skills
- Illustration
- Adobe Photoshop
- Painting
- Child Illustrator
- Colour
- Children Illustration
- Childrens Book
- Packaging Design
- Screen Printing
Education
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BDes (Hons) Illustration First Class HonoursDuncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
- Dundee, United Kingdom
Awards
Macmillan Prize for Illustration 2021Pan Macmillan
I am so happy to share that I was awarded the Macmillan Prize for Illustration 2021, for my interactive illustrated book ‘ants’. My book explores the tiny world of ants through a tactile experience, encouraging engagement from the youngest of readers through play.
Chris Inns, art and design director at Macmillan Children’s Books and chair of the judges, said: “Cara’s wonderful illustration immediately caught the judges’ attention. The use of a bright, but not obvious, palette of eye-catching colours and bold compositions, evocative of Matisse, made this book stand out in a very strong field. Cara’s stylish work produced an instant, positive and unanimous reaction, spreading smiles across the judging panel’s faces.
Cara also added flaps and mechanisms to her book, making it interactive and further encouraging exploration and discovery through play. This aspect was integrated impeccably, making the book friendly and accessible for the very young."
Rooney added: “I am so delighted and grateful to have won the Macmillan Prize for Illustration this year and am very thankful for the judges’ feedback on my book. I have always had a fascination for the natural world and having loved interactive books and activity books since I was little, I wanted to create work that would combine children’s curiosity with playful formats, encouraging interaction with the reader.
This feels so surreal after admiring and being inspired by amazing previous winners of the competition and reading their beautiful published children’s books to my little brother and sister too.”Fresh Meet 'Stand Out' WinnerFresh Meet
Winner of Fresh Meet's personal branding design competition, 'Stand Out'. The competition involved creating your own self promotional designs such as business cards, a portfolio, logo and branded invoice.
India Pearce: “Cara's personal branding epitomised and complimented her work. What stood out was the small touches that Cara put to her personal branding to mirror her own practice as an artist and illustrator. Throughout all of her executions Cara comes across as enthusiatic, treading the line between professional adult and playful child expertly.
A lot of consideration went into all of the outcomes and we think it's absolutely delightful! Cara will be winning our awesome prize list from our partner companies Adobe, Collab Studio, fbeinghumble, ga london, GF Smith, Glug Events, Intern, Laurence King Publishing, Posca, Semplice and Underpinned”+ Show more