Growing up between the Mountains of Mourne and the Irish Sea, I spent summers at my granny’s house - a place that continues to inspire the colour, light, and atmosphere in my work today.

After graduating in 2000 with a B.Ed (Hons) in Art & Design, I spent several years as Head of Art in a busy secondary school before deciding to follow my dream of becoming a full-time artist and designer. I’ve always believed that art and interiors are deeply connected — the right artwork doesn’t just decorate a space, it transforms it. To enhance my knowledge, I went on to study Interior Design, helping clients select artwork that perfectly complements their homes and businesses.

My artistic journey began in Rostrevor, where I opened my first gallery and launched my own label of luxury velvet homewares following an inspiring collaboration with BBC’s “The Repair Shop” presenter Jay Blades. That creative chapter allowed me to blend my love of art and interiors while building a loyal following of collectors and clients from across the world. In recent years, my family and I relocated to Belfast, marking an exciting new chapter for both my life and career. After opening my first city gallery in CastleCourt Shopping Centre, I have now found a permanent home for my art on the Ormeau Road - a vibrant creative hub in the heart of Belfast.

After a beautiful season on Ormeau Road, I made the decision to close the gallery and return to a more personal, intentional way of creating and sharing my work. By stepping away from the demands of running a physical gallery space, I’ve been able to focus more deeply on my health, my family, and the art itself - returning to the heart of what inspired this journey in the very beginning. Rather than expanding into a larger team and outsourcing more of the experience, I wanted to keep Jacqueline Rooney Art personal, connected and creatively led in every way. Today, I continue to share my work online, with new collections, original paintings and exciting projects already taking shape behind the scenes.