Kebbell was born in Queensland, Australia on 20 July 1888. In 1901, as Vere Kebble, he was living at 16 York Road, Hove, Sussex with his 33 year old widowed mother Edith, who was born in Calcutta.

Kebbell studied at Byam Shaw and at Vicat School of Art and during his painting career was known as Vere Kebbell. He married Hilda Robertina Myring in Ealing in 1914, and they had two children, Charles Denys Vere and Joan Betty.

Kebbell was a portrait specialist and a member of the Ipswich Art Club from 1922-1926, exhibiting from 17 Longridge Road, Earls Court, London S.W.5, two oil paintings, ‘A Sketch at Burford’ and ‘Jug-Still Life’. He was also a member and exhibitor at the Pastel Society having other exhibitions at Royal Academy 1915-1945; the Royal Institute of Oil Painters; International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers and at the Walker Gallery, Liverpool.

In 1939, an artist, still living at 5 Grange Park, Ealing, London which was still his address when he died at King Edward Hospital, Ealing on 29 March 1963.