Born in Alexandria, Seif Wanly was raised in French-speaking Turkish aristocratic family and was privately tutored in his family house. Seif Wanly and his brother, Adham (see lot 34), started developing an interest in painting and art. They attended Italian painter Ottorino Becchi's new studio in Alexandria, Egypt. Becchi introduced them to avant-garde movements like Futurism and Cubism; these two techniques formed the basis from which Wanly developed his personal style defined by angular lines, bright shades and colorful geometric shapes.

Becchi left Egypt and the Wanly brothers decided to set up their own studio in Alexandria. The studio was set up during the 1940s with the filmmaker Mohammed Bayoumi, who also collaborated. Their studio is frequently credited with bringing attention to the art of the region.

The Wanly brothers travelled extensively after the Second World War, particularly during the 1950s to France, Italy and Spain, where they sketched and painted scenes of ballet, opera, theatre performances and landscapes. In 1957, Seif Wanly travelled to Nubia to create a collection of paintings and drawings that depicted life in Upper Egypt. This project was initiated by the government to document the culture and conditions of the area before the relocation necessary for the construction of the Aswan High Dam. During this project Seif Wanly worked with other well-known artists of their generation, including Tahia Halim and Hussein Bikar.

That same year, 1975, Seif's brother Adham passed away. This resulted in a very difficult period for the artist, which was reflected in his artworks. The Wanly brothers were really close both in their life and work. Both artists influenced one another, developing similar styles. The Wanly brothers were pioneers in introducing modern pictorial trends to Alexandria, depicting international subjects, and moving away from the folklorist style of their contemporaries.