1922
Born in South London, England on August 21 to Albert and Nina Irvin. Five years later his brother Lawrence was born.
1940
Evacuated from Grammar School in North London to Northampton as the World War II broke out, Bert subsequently applied and was accepted at Northampton School of Art, and meets an early inspiration, Revd Walter Hussey.
Meets Betty Nicolson, a student also evacuated from Clapham School of Art.
1941
Served in the Royal Air Force as a navigator.
1945
Continues to fly as navigator on civilian aeroplanes after WWII which enables travel around Europe.
1946
Applies and is accepted at Goldsmith's College of Art, London.
1947
Marries Betty
1949
Birth of first child, Priscilla.
1950
Graduates from Goldsmith's with National Diploma in Design.
Takes part in first group exhibition at RBA Galleries, London.
1955
Produces Cellist.
1956
Visiting an exhibition at the Tate Gallery, Modern Art in the United States, proves a turning point.
1957
Meets artist Peter Lanyon,
At this time also became involved in the St Ives art scene during many visits and formed relationships with Terry Frost, Roger Hilton, Sandra Blow, Brian Wynter, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham and Trevor Bell amongst others.
1959
Produces Town.
Birth of second daughter, Celia.
Takes art teaching job at Wandsworth Prison.
Cellist, 1955
Town, 1959
1960
First exhibition at 57 Gallery, Edinburgh.
First non-UK exhibition at the Galerie im Griechenbeisl, Vienna, Austria.
1962
Begins teaching at Goldsmith's with Basil Beattie, William Tucker, Kenneth
Martin, Andrew Forge, John Thompson, Michael Craig-Martin, Harry Thubron etc.
Produces Day Full of Time and Open Sky
1963
Starts new phase of oils on paper.
Produces Resting Place and Around The Square.
1965
Elected member of the London Group.
Produces Blue Junction
Produces Rider
1966
Starts to paint works that are predominantly black or oval in shape.
1968
Involved in arts studio letting company SPACE.
Studio at Katherine Dock.