Stiliana Alexieva

Stiliana Alexieva is a Bulgarian-born artist based in London, known for her luminous seascapes that explore light, atmosphere, and the elemental beauty of the coastline. Drawing on both classical painting traditions and a contemporary approach to materials, her work captures the shifting moods of sea and sky, creating compositions that feel both timeless and distinctly modern.

Born in Varna on the Black Sea coast, Stiliana’s early connection to the sea continues to inform her work. She grew up surrounded by art, guided by her father, painter and sculptor Jordan Alexiev, and developed an early sensitivity to form, space, and visual storytelling. After moving to London to continue her studies, completing degrees at the University of West London and Goldsmiths, she began refining her artistic voice, eventually developing the signature seascape practice for which she is now known.

Working on aluminium, Stiliana uses a self-developed technique to layer pigment while allowing the reflective qualities of the surface to remain visible. Light plays an active role in each piece, shifting throughout the day and subtly altering the painting’s appearance depending on its environment and the viewer’s position. This interplay creates a sense of movement and depth, giving her work a quietly immersive, ever-changing quality.

Her seascapes are inspired by the dramatic, often unpredictable weather of the British and Scottish coastlines. Rather than depicting specific locations, they evoke a universal sense of place — where sky, water, and light meet — allowing viewers to connect through memory, emotion, and personal experience.

Over the past two decades, Stiliana has exhibited internationally, including multiple exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, as well as major art fairs across Europe, Asia, and the United States. Her work is held in prestigious private and corporate collections, including commissions for the Qatari Royal Family, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, P&O Cruises, and Formula 1 HQ.

Her paintings offer more than a visual experience; they create a moment of pause — spaces of calm, reflection, and quiet freedom.