Educated at Bangor Grammar School, Colin McGookin studied at the Ulster College of Art 1976-81. He was a founder-member of the Artists' Collective of Northern Ireland in 1981 and was on the Board of Directors for the next 10 years, serving as Chair person in 1984 and Secretary in 1990.

He was also a founder member of Queen Street studios in Belfast in 1984. In 1996-7 he was seconded to co-ordinate the multi-media arts training course for Voluntary Services Belfast and the Play Resource Warehouse.