Born in Epsom, Surrey, Mick Rooney studied at art colleges in Sutton (1959–62) and Wimbledon (1962–64) before attending the Royal College of Art (1964–67). He won a scholarship to study at the British School at Rome in 1967–68. Up to 1972 Rooney taught in British art schools and was artist-in-residence at the Towner Art Gallery in 1983. He won numerous art prizes in the 1980s including the Korn/Ferry International Premier Award at the Royal Academy (1989). Rooney has exhibited his work in solo and group shows in the UK and Europe. He was elected a Royal Academician in 1991. A major exhibition of his work was held in 2004 at firstsite, Colchester.
