Thórarinn Leifsson (born July 29, 1966) is an Icelandic children book author and Illustrator. In 1984-1989, he studied at the Icelandic Academy of Arts. In the same period he worked as a street painter in western Europe. After graduation from art school he worked as an illustrator, billboard painter and graphic designer. He has illustrated several books and newspaper articles. The HC Andersen books, published in 4 northern countries are among his most important illustrations.

Leifsson co-authored the children's book Total Freedom (2001) with Audur Jonsdottir. His first children's book, Father's Big Secret, was published in 2007 in Iceland, Denmark and Germany. It is a grim tale about a cannibalistic father of the house and his children. Reviews recognized the obvious metaphor for dysfunctional families.

His latest children's book, Grandmother's Library (2009) was awarded the Reykjavik Children Books Prize in 2010.
It has been seen by many as an anecdote about the Icelandic financial crash.

Leifsson is currently working on a memoir from his street artist days.

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Work (More details)

2010
Working on memoir from street artist years. Due autumn 2011.
Writing and illustrating for educational institutions (Unisef, SAFT, etc).

2009
Father's Big Secret is Published in Germany and Denmark.
Thorarinns second major text book, Grandmothers Library, comes out in the end of the year. Receives excellent reviews and Reykjavik Children Books Prize .
Major two page interview in Politiken, Denmarks most important newspaper.

2008
Young readers book commissioned by The National Centre for Educational Materials with original text and illustrations: Little Doris Ghost Story.
Illustrated posters for Icelandic Unisef and others.
Diverse illustration projects. Book layout and design.
Relocation to Reykjavik.

2007
Father's Big Secret, first book with own text and illustration comes out in the end of the year. Receives excellent reviews.
Illustration and writing for Morgunblaðið.

2006
Guidebook for Icelandic tourists. Published in May.
Relocation to Barcelona.

2005
Multimedia development for Researchgruppen.com in Copenhagen.
Clients included Baugur Group and Icelandair.

2004
HC Andersen Illustrations in 5 books, published in 4 north european countries.
Newspaper layout for the Icelandic Community in Copenhagen.

2003
Totil.com produces web design, Illustration and Layout.
The teenage handbook. 70 illustrations.
Relocation to Copenhagen.

2002
Start working in own firm named Totil.com.
Mainly web-page design.
Expands to print work as well.

2001
Kveikir(EJS) a web-solutions company.
Pixel pusher.
Worked on projects for Radisson/SAS, Landsbanki íslands, Flaga hf., EJS hf., Ensimtækni and others.
Co-write and Illustrate Total Freedom, a children's book with wife Audur. The book gets excellent reviews from the press and is voted second best children book of the year by the Icelandic book sellers. Design and manage Trassi.is a website for kids aged 8-12. This Dreamweaver managed site became the most visited children's site In iceland in a short period.

2000
Ad firm Mekkano, the company created from the merge of Gaedamidlun and GSP. Mekkano was the biggest Advertising Agency of the period in Reykjavik. Employing 80+ individuals.

1998-2000
Employee number 3 at Visir.is an internet startup that grew quickly to become the second largest online news-service in Iceland. Designed event web sites, logos, icons, flash material and newspaper ads. Illustrator at DV-Fokus, a popular weekly.

1997 Web, print and illustration for various clients. The print design included CD design, posters and newspaper ads.

1989-1996
Independent Illustrator in traditional media. Airbrush, silk-screen printing, cartoons and painting.

1984-1989
Art student. Took one year of to be a street painter in Europe.

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Education
Iceland Academy of the Arts Bachelor of Arts equivalent in Fine Arts, 1984-1989. Several webdesign related courses.

Exhibitions
R&B Gallery in November 2000. Exhibition of Illustrations published in Dv-Fokus 1998-2000.
Iða. Exhibition of Illustrations from Fathers Big Secret. 2008.
Ibby exhibition of of children books Illustrations. 2008.
Bologna exhibition of of children books Illustrations. 2008.
Exhibition of Illustrations from Grandmothers Library. 2009.

Teaching
Poetry seminar for children in Mors, Denmark 2010
Iceland Academy of the Arts: "Cartoons and Macromedia Flash" in December 2000.

Languages
Icelandic mother tongue, Danish fluent, English fluent, Spanish fluent, German basic. Lived in Denmark and attended primary school on Østerbro from 1971-77. Lived in Barcelona, Spain 1994-95 and 2006-08. Berlin, 1991. Now lives in Reykjavik.

Personal details
Date of birth: July 29th, 1966
Married to Audur Jonsdottir, writer and journalist.
Father to Salvor, born 1992.