Mary Beneventi was born and raised in San Diego, California. She studied oil painting and various mediums at the Art Center College of Design. She now resides and has a studio in Washington.

In recent years, she has been showing in major exhibitions and art galleries in the Seattle and Portland areas. Her works are in private and corporate collections throughout the Northwest, California and Italy.

Her individualistic style reflects a highly refined technique and a poetic expression of life and nature. She works exclusively in oils, with color playing a large part of her personal style. Her work features hues and values favored by artists of the 19th Century. Beneventi refers to her style as "controlled impressionism." Her considerable following is drawn to her paintings for their beauty, classic style and emotional impact.

She finds aesthetic inspiration in landscapes, therefore she paints what she most appreciates: "I am always looking for the dramatic perspective and color in the natural landscape. I prefer to go out with just my camera and take slides or photos of potential subjects. I photograph the changing skies at sunset frequently and will often select a small segment of a larger image and make it the model for my focal point...such as an interesting tree shape or unusual cloud formations. In the end, what goes on the canvas is a response to the things I have observed and recollected in my visual memory."