The Illustrators Behind The Rainbow Stories

The Rainbow Stories is a children’s book illustration studio in Lahore, working with self-publishing authors, independent publishers and educators across the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and Europe. Every illustration is drawn by hand. None of it is generated by AI.

Who We Are

We illustrate picture books, early readers and chapter books for children aged 2 to 12. A typical project starts with a manuscript and ends with character sheets, interior spreads, a cover, and print-ready files for Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble or EPUB.

We are deliberately small. The illustrator who draws your book is the person you talk to, and the style stays consistent from the first sketch to the last spread.

Our founder and lead illustrator, Amna Zaki, has illustrated more than 50 children’s books over seven years, and holds Top Rated Plus status on Upwork with a 100% Job Success Score. Between us, The Rainbow Stories has illustrated more than 100 children’s books; more than 50 of those are Amna’s own.

Our TEAM

Amna Zaki founded the studio and leads every project. Each book is assigned to one illustrator from first sketch to final file, so your characters never change hands part way through a story.

Working with us from another time zoneWe are in Lahore and work Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm Pakistan time. Whatever time you send something, you will have a reply within one business day.In practice that overlaps with roughly 9am to 1pm in London, the first half of the afternoon in Sydney, and the very start of the morning on the US East Coast. If you are in North America you will usually send a note at the end of your day and find the answer waiting at the start of the next. Feedback rounds are written rather than scheduled, so no one has to take a call at midnight.

AMNA ZAKI

Founder and lead illustrator. More than 50 children’s books over seven years, and Top Rated Plus on Upwork with a 100% Job Success Score. Her portfolio runs the widest of the four: animal casts, fantasy scenes, family stories, storyboards and covers. She leads every project from first sketch to print-ready files.

AYESHA

Five years illustrating children’s books. Character work is the bulk of her portfolio: casts, turnarounds and expression sheets, with a strong run of fantasy scenes alongside it. She works up rough sketches for approval first, so the cast is agreed before a single page is painted.

NOOR

Five years illustrating children’s books, and more besides: cartoons, packaging, stickers and puzzles. Covers make up a larger share of her portfolio than anyone else’s on the team, alongside animal characters and storyboards. She settles the colour palette early and revises against the story rather than the style.

AMNA ASHRAF

Senior illustrator and studio manager, and three years working with The Rainbow Stories. She manages projects across the team and keeps the schedule moving, and illustrates alongside it.

If you have a manuscript, tell us about it. We come back within one business day with what it would involve, what it costs and how long it takes.

Questions about the studio

What is The Rainbow Stories?

A children's book illustration studio based in Lahore, Pakistan. We illustrate picture books, early readers and chapter books for children aged 2 to 12, working with self-publishing authors, independent publishers and educators in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Europe.

How many illustrators work here?

Four: Amna Zaki, who founded the studio and leads every project, Ayesha, Noor, and Amna Ashraf, who manages projects across the team and illustrates alongside it.

Each book is assigned to one of them from the first sketch to the final file, so your characters never change hands part way through a story.

How long has the studio been working, and how many books has it illustrated?

Amna has illustrated more than 50 children's books over seven years. Ayesha and Noor each bring five years of children's book work. Amna Ashraf has worked with the studio for three years. Between us, the studio has illustrated more than 100 children's books.

Is any of the artwork generated by AI?

No, at no stage. Every illustration is drawn by hand. The sketching is done digitally, in Procreate, rather than on paper, but the drawing is a person drawing.

Who runs the studio?

Amna Zaki founded The Rainbow Stories and is its lead illustrator. She holds Top Rated Plus status on Upwork with a 100% Job Success Score.

Can I ask for a particular illustrator?

Say so when you send your manuscript. If there is work in the portfolio you want matched, point us at it and we will tell you honestly whether that illustrator is free and whether it is the right fit for your book.