About

Hi, I’m Sarah Valenti — a marine life artist and marine ecologist with a lifelong love for the ocean. My paintings explore the vivid, teeming worlds beneath the waves — from vibrant coral reefs and drifting kelp forests to the eccentric characters of small fish. I paint from memories, sketches, photo and video references to capture the color, motion, and vitality of marine environments.

My artistic journey began later in life, sparked as a form of healing and reflection. I found myself returning to the sea through painting. Drawing from my own experiences as a diver and snorkeler, as well as a career in biodiversity conservation, I explore underwater worlds with both scientific curiosity and artistic wonder.

I work primarily with acrylics and oil paints, layering paint, glazes and texture to evoke the luminosity and complexity of marine ecosystems. I also experiment with watercolor and mixed media for some studies.

My aim is to create paintings that evoke joy, adventure, curiosity, and highlight the wonder of the natural world. While some pieces are whimsical or symbolic, others are quiet studies of the relationships between species and habitats. 

View my available paintings, read the blog, or send me a message to say hello or ask any questions you may have. For occasional looks behind the scenes, offers and early access to new work, sign up for my mailing list here.