Umme Ismaeel

Umme Ismaeel (Beenash Faris) is a Traditional Islamic Artist, Research Intelligence Analyst, Teacher and Talib e ilm (Student of Islamic Knowledge). She specialises in Biomorphic (Illumination) and Traditional Geometry and miniature painting.

She was born in Hackney London, and resides in Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK, this year's City of Culture. Her paternal and maternal family originated from the Poonch District of Kashmir. Though she was recognised for her talent in Art, she studied Sociology at Brunel University, and became a Civil Servant.

After her spiritual awakening in learning to recite the holy Quraan, with rules of Tajweed, she decided to pursue a career in the Traditional Arts and pursue her path of Islamic Knowledge. Her specialism is in teaching Islamic Manuscript Illumination, Traditional Geometry and Biomorphic design and Arabic Calligraphy. She has exhibited in Landmark venues such as the V&A, Salts Mills and South field square gallery. She is known for her bold yet sophisticated colour pallete and fine handwriting technique, marrying traditional and abstract forms.

She has learnt from Various traditional Art Masters, from Pakistan, Turkey and Iran. She also spent some time studying at King's School of Traditional Arts. Her current work is focussed on reinventing traditional and modern day 'Hiliyah' description of Prophet Muhammed صلى الله عليه وسلم, thus combining her studies from the traditional Islamic theology (Dars E Nizami) and her traditional islamic Artistic skills. She also specialises in teaching Tajweed, Fiqh, Sarf and Nahav, in English, Urdu and Arabic.

Umme Ismaeel has a son, and is passionate about supporting orphans in Pakistan.