Harwood O. Benton III (Woody) was born in Colorado in 1946. Shortly thereafter,  he & his parents moved to a small town outside of Rheims, France. Woody attributes his initial exposure to fine art to his mother, who ushered him through museums & galleries across post-World War II Europe. As a child, Woody included drawing among his pursuits. During his early twenties, his creativity turned to acting, and he became a member of a Shakespearian company which traversed the United States. In between shows, Woody continued to draw, expanding his skills in fine art by turning to watercolor painting.  Woody takes pride in the fact that he is self-taught. He has looked to such masters of fine art as John Singer Sargent, Sir William Russell Flint, Joseph Turner, and John Waterhouse to direct his pursuit of excellence in the challenging medium of watercolor. Woody’s eclectic selection of subject matter bespeaks his continued interest in the diversity and shared humanity of multiple cultures.

Woody’s paintings are often based upon his own travels.  His work can be found in galleries throughout California and the Hawaiian Islands, as well as private collections Internationally.

Woody currently teaches watercolor classes in various locations throughout San Luis Obispo County, where he resides with his wife, Joni of thirty-three years.