McLenon, Amanda

Amanda McLenon is a conservationist at heart who started her career teaching high school biology in Michigan, and completed her Master’s in marine biology in South Carolina in 2011. Completely unexpectedly, she began painting in 2009, working in reverse on glass and incorporating maps she had collected over the years. Amanda was quickly recognized for her unique style, and in 2012 she received the prestigious Lowcountry Artist of the Year Award. More recently, Amanda’s passions are reflected in her large-scale avian works on canvas, with a focus on birds in graceful preening positions. 

She was part of a 53-day research cruise to Antarctica, and she is an Ambassador to the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program. Amanda shows her work at Piccolo Spoleto Festival, in various galleries along the East Coast, and she accepts a small number of custom commissions each year. She has recently moved to the WNC mountains, where she works in a private studio on the river and is constantly expanding her collections and offerings to reflect her new home base—now offering different motif options to both mountain and coastal enthusiasts.