Born in Leeds to an English father and a French mother, his family moved to the mountains near Lyon, France after the Second World War, where he was educated. He studied fine art in Paris, and later worked in an advertising agency in Paris, where he met Serge Danot. Together they made the acclaimed French series Le Manège Enchanté (known in English as The Magic Roundabout), with Wood as the animator.

Following the success of the Magic Roundabout in the UK, Wood became both animator and director for a number of British animated children's programmes, starting with The Herbs in 1968. During the 1970s he animated and directed Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings, The Wombles and Paddington. In 1973 he and his wife Josiane set up their own production company, called Woodland Animations, and made the series Gran, Bertha, Charlie Chalk and Postman Pat.

Wood died of lung cancer on 13 October 2004.

His body was interred in a graveyard in Leeds near his birthplace.

He is survived by his wife Josiane and one son.

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