Allen Fatimaharan is a freelance illustrator and animator working mainly in children's books, editorial illustration and educational animation. As well as comics, motion graphics, and storyboards. A recent World Book Day Illustrator, he has been lucky enough to work on lots of wonderful projects.
The first picture book he illustrated, 'My Hair' written by Hannah Lee was nominated for the 2020 CILIP Kate Greenaway medal for illustration, longlisted for the 2020 Klaus Flugge prize, shortlisted for the 2020 Booktrust's Storytime Prize and won the 2022 Quiz Writers' Choice Awards. It was read as a CBeebies Bedtime Story by Motsi Mabuse in 2022. 'A Dinosaur Ate My Sister' written by Pooja Puri was the first title selected for the Marcus Rashford Bookclub and was shortlisted for the 2023 Laugh Out Loud (Lollies) book awards. And 'Llama Out Loud' by 'Annabelle Sami' was shortlisted for the 2021 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize, longlisted for the 2021 Blue Peter Book Awards and won a Spark Book Award in 2021.
He loves doing author/illustrator events at literary festivals, libraries, schools and bookshops. Some of the festivals he has been invited to speak/draw at include the Hay Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Cheltenham Literature Festival, Discovery Children's Story Centre and a series of events for Southbank Centre's 'Imagine a Story' with author Alexandra Sheppard. As well as virtual live streamed events for World Book Day Live with Hannah Lee, and a live drawing for an event with Michael Rosen for the British Library and Seven Stories National Centre for Children's Books.
He was named the official World Book Day Illustrator for 2022 and 2023. Tasked with creating a set of illustrations to help promote reading and communicate the key principles of World Book Day as well as creating the animated launch videos. His illustrations were used in a variety of ways including on the one pound book tokens, world book day point of sale displays in shops and on screen advertising.
As an editorial illustrator and animator he has worked with a variety of museums, magazines, journals, libraries and universities. Creating artwork for articles, posters and advertising as well as directing short educational animations and promos. His clients have included the British Library, the Wallace Collection and University of the Arts, London. He has also been the regular illustrator for the British Psychoanalytic Council's New Associations journal since 2018, creating over a hundred illustrations and animated GIFs, visually translating articles on a variety of subject matters written by many excellent contributors including Susanna Abse and Gary Younge.
When he's not drawing he loves reading and going on long walks rambling around the countryside. He lives in Oxfordshire with his fiancée.
For book illustrating/writing commissions please contact his agent Angharad Kowal Stannus:
angharad (at) kowalstannusagency (dot) com
For any other illustration or animation commission please email me:
afatimaharan (at) gmail (dot) com
AWARDS
2020 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration - Nominated - My Hair
2021 Waterstones Children's Book Prize - Shortlisted - Llama Out Loud
2020 Klaus Flugge Award - Longlisted - My Hair
2023 Laugh Out Loud Book Awards - Shortlisted - A Dinosaur Ate My Sister
2018 FAB Prize for Illustration - 2nd Prize
2021 Spark Book Awards - Winner - Llama Out Loud
2020 Bishops Stortford Prize - Shortlisted - My Hair
2020 Diverse Book Awards - Shortlisted - My Hair
2020 Booktrust Storytime Prize - Shortlisted - My Hair
2020 Derby Book Awards - Shortlisted - My Hair
2021 Blue Peter Book Awards - Longlisted - Llama Out Loud
2021 UKLA (UK Literacy Association) Book Awards - Longlisted - My Hair
2022 Quiz Writers' Choice Awards - Winner - My Hair
2022 Spark Book Awards - Shortlisted - A Dinosaur Ate My Sister
2022 Diverse Book Awards - Longlisted - The Rapping Princess
2015 'The Reportager Award' with Moleskine Sketchbooks - Shortlisted
EXHIBITIONS
Selected for the Secret 7“ 2018 Exhibition- my cover artwork for the Clash was selected, then auctioned to raise money for Mind Charity, London, UK, 2018
Selected for the CGMA 2D acadamy annual exhibition at the Animation Guild Gallery, Los Angeles, USA, 2018 and 2019
Selected for the 'The Reportager Award' Exhibition, UWE Bristol, UK, 2015
Selected for ‘The Big Draw’ self-portraits exhibition at Chapel Row Gallery, Bath, UK, 2010
