[5] His house[6][7][8] on Kendal Street in Vacaville was famously filled with examples of his design work for the Nut Tree.
[10] In 1951, he organized an exhibition of the work of artist Martín Ramírez at the Crocker Art Museum.
[12][13][14][15] In 1953,[16] Birrell became design director for the Nut Tree restaurant in Vacaville, where he remained until his retirement in 1990.
[18] Birrell's graphic design style can be characterized as minimalist, colorful, and highly abstracted.
[19][20][21] Birrell was admired and was influenced by a number of artists and designers, notably: Charles and Ray Eames, Maynard Dixon, Rockwell Kent, Grant Wood, Saul Bass, Herbert Bayer, Alexander Calder, Cassandre, William Moore, Piet Mondrian, Alexander Girard, László Moholy-Nagy, Thomas Moran, George Nelson, Paul Rand, and Charles Sheeler.