A colorful, hand-drawn collage of various birds, plants, and notes about nature and bird species, including black-headed gulls and other birds, with handwritten descriptions and date.
A colorful watercolor illustration of various wildflowers, including daisies, lavender, and spirea, with handwritten notes about the flowers and their characteristics.
Hand-drawn and watercolor illustrated poster for a nature event titled 'The lure of the Local,' scheduled from July 19-23 at the Adirondack Shoreham by Sea. The poster features drawings of daisies, yellow flowers, and fledgling birds in flight, with
An artistic drawing of a nature scene with watercolor and ink details, featuring a sunset over water, various flowers, and two small bird illustrations with handwritten notes and comments about the plants and birds depicted.

I am a painter, printmaker, a teacher, a dog-lover, a wife and mother, with over 40 years experience as a professional artist.

I studied a degree in Printmaking at the University of Santa Cruz, California, before training at the prestigious San Francisco Art Institute. I also have a Masters in Drawing as Process from Kingston University. For many years, I was a portrait painter, mainly of humans, but also of their canine companions, and I still happily take on commissions.

Picture of Seana Mallen


I am a painter and printmaker delighted to live on the banks of the river Adur.

Originally from California, now the ever-changing beauty of the river, the boats and birds, the harbour, the sea and the downs all inspire me. My whimsical mixed-media paintings and colourful collages are never a photographic representation of a particular place, but an invitation to wander in the landscape and your own imagination. 

Nature journaling is a recent passion, continuing a lifelong sketchbook practice. Drawing in nature allows us to slow down, to really LOOK, to pay attention to the weeds  and wonder at their humble and resilient beauty. It's a fascinating journey of discovery that I love to share.

I am a generous, enthusiastic and experienced teacher. I regularly teach on cruise ships, and also offers classes and workshops locally for artists of all levels, sharing my skills and knowledge to help others develop their creativity, deepen their connection to nature,  and find joy in the process of making art.

I have exhibited work internationally, at the Royal Academy and in open studios and local exhibitions. I am a member of the Sussex Watercolour Society and the Adur Art Collective.. Through my art and my teaching, I continue to inspire others to connect with the natural world finding beauty in the everyday.

I believe that artwork can be a force for good in the world. Both through doing it and seeing it, it can change perceptions in tiny but powerful ways…

Education
MA, Drawing as Process, 2001-2003, Kingston University, London
BA, Fine Arts, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1975 

Exhibitions
Sussex Watercolour Society, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
“Visions”, Bahrain Art Centre,2009 ,  2010 and 2012
"In Celebration of Women", World Beat Gallery, Janabiya, Bahrain, Oct/ Nov. 2011
"African Sanctus", Crowne Plaza Convention Centre and  Sar Art Space, June 2010
"7 Days in Kerala", Albareh Gallery, June 2010
“A Beautiful Mess”, Al Riwaq Gallery, July, 2009
“Arthouse” , Banyan Tree, Bahrain, May 2009
“Jazz”, Upstairs, Downstairs, Manama , May 2008
The Malden Centre, New Malden, UK, 2000, 2002, 2004
Bahrain International Garden Show, 2006, 2007, 2008
“O Fortuna”, 4 artists response to music, Seef Mall, May 2007
“Torr, Mallen, Maddison”, The Old Post Office Gallery, Wimbledon, UK, 2007
Kingston Open (juried show) 2002, 2003, 2004
Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston 2003
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London, 2001, 2002
"A Year in Richmond Park” Pembroke Lodge, London 1999
“New Printmakers”,San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
And numerous group shows in California, Washington, DC, and the UK. 
Participated in Open Studios and Artists Open houses in San Francisco, Washington, DC, Bahrain, and  London and  Brighton in the UK .

Teaching
1990-2003 :  Kingston Adult Education College. I taught drawing, life drawing, watercolour and acrylic painting.
2003-2005: Kingston University, I ran workshops for other MA students in experimental drawing, and taught life drawing to under-graduates.
2005-2013: Upon arriving in Bahrain I started AwaliArts, a small independent art school, specialising in figurative arts through drawing, watercolour and acrylic.
2009-2013:  Lecturer in Art and Design, Bahrain Polytechnic
2010-2013: Odyssey Art at Sea instructor, teaching painting classes on  4 Cruises of the Crystal Serenity
2014- present: run workshops and courses independently in California, England and Bahrain