Growing up, the artist watched his artist mother create beautiful artwork, and it was her passion for painting and drawing that inspires him today. While Benson is a professional truck driver, he spends much of his spare time painting, and this is an important way for him to honour his mother and connect to culture.

Based in Geelong, Benson’s mother was of Scottish-English heritage and his father, a member of the Eastern Arrernte people, was born under a tree on the dry river bed of the Todd River, Alice Springs.