1928 Graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and English. Studied at the studio of local artist, Eva Bradshaw (1871-1938) and took evening classes at H. B. Beal Technical School. Began to write seriously.

1928-1940 Supported himself working as a commercial artist and book illustrator. Painted landscapes and portraits in spare time.

1930 Studied during the winter at the Art Students League in New York.

1932 Studied during the winter at the Central School of Art, New York.

1933 Traveled to England and Scotland through the Canadian Authors Association in recognition for his illustrations for the book Life in Japan. Met A. Y. Jackson, Franklin Carmichael and A. J. Casson and, began to accompany them on annual sketching trips to northern Ontario and Quebec.

1934-1940 Elected Secretary of the Western Art League. Arranged six to ten exhibitions a year in various rented spaces, including annual exhibition of London artists.

1936 Given first one-man show at Smallman and Ingram, a local department store.

1939 Started first annual Western Ontario Exhibition. Elected to the Ontario Society of Artists. Exhibited at the New York World's Fair. Had a studio at 508 Wellington Street, London.

1940 Appointed Curator (part-time) of the newly opened London Public Library and Art Museum. Established Saturday Morning Art Classes for children. Elected Associate of the Royal Canadian Academy.

1941 Became author/illustrator of his first published children's book, Jory's Cove . Initiated with Dr. Richard Crouch, the Lending Library of Canadian Art, the first picture loan project in any Canadian public institution. Married Marion Reid.

1942-1945 Began war service in the camouflage and medical corps with the Canadian Army in Canada and Europe.

1946 Returned to London to resume duties as part-time Curator. Established the Secondary School Art Workshop program. Continued in commercial art field and taught evening classes at H.B. Beal Technical School for the next the years. Son, Kevin, born.

1946-1972 Served on Western Fair Art Committee.

1948 Across Canada , his second children's book as author/illustrator, published.

1949 Daughter, Megan, Born.

1953 Organized first "Young Contemporaries" exhibit.

1953-1954 Received Canadian government Fellowship to travel, paint and visit galleries in England and France.

1954 The Great Island, his third children' book as author/illustrator published. Initiated "Paintings in the Parks" summer project for children.

1957 Appointed full-time curator at the London Public Library and Art Museum. A Dog for Davie's Hill , his fourth children's book, published and chosen as an American Children's book Club Selection.

1959 Taught for the summer at the University of British Columbia.

1960 Initiated "Pictures in the School" Project with the local Board of Education. Helped establish the artist-in-residence program at the University of Western Ontario.

1961 Server on jury for the National Gallery of Canada's "4th Biennial".

1961-1972 Served on the Advisory Committee for Storybook Gardens.

1962 Received Honorary Degree, Doctor of Laws, University of Western Ontario, and delivered the convocation address. Given one man exhibit at the university's McIntosh gallery

1962-1963 Awarded Canadian Council Senior Arts Fellowship. Traveled and painted in England and France.

1964 Elected full member of the Royal Canadian Academy.

1965-1972 Elected member of the Executive, Ontario Association of Art Galleries.

1965 The Hurricane Treasure , his fifth children's book as author/illustrator, published.

1966 Initiated the art coloured slide lending collection at the London Public Library and Art Museum.

1966-1968 Elected President, Canadian Art Museum Director's Organization.

1967 Awarded Centennial Medal, Visiting Curator, Canadian Government Art Pavilion, Expo '67, Montreal, Quebec. Selected as a member of the Art Consultant Committee, Queen's Park Project, to commission art for the new provincial government complex in Toronto.

1967-1970 Elected President, Royal Canadian Academy.

1972 Suffered a coronary.

1972 retired in September as Curator, London Public Library and Art Museum. Awarded a Canadian Council Senior Fellowship for writing. Awarded the Order of Canada.

1974 Given major retrospective at London Public Library and Art Museum which subsequently toured Ontario.

1975-1976 A second retrospective toured Atlantic Canada.

1976 Died suddenly on May 18 after opening retrospective in St. John's, Newfoundland. Memorial retrospective presented in July and August at the London Public Library and Art Museum.