Oumbertos Argyros was born in Kavala.

In 1900 he enrolled at the School of Fine Arts, Athens, where he studied painting under Nikiforos Lytras and Georgios Roilos. He graduated four years later as an exceptional student.

In 1906 Argyros continued his studies in Munich at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Two years later, he was awarded a scholarship by the Averoff Foundation, that allowed him to remain in the Bavarian Capital. There, he studied with Otto Seitz and later with Ludwig von Lofftz and Carl von Marr.

Because his scholarship mandated study of iconography and important orthodox religious landmarks, he visited Mount Athos, Jerusalem, Egypt and several European cities.

Argyros lived in Munich for a total of twenty-three years, returning to Greece in 1929. In the same year, he was elected a professor at the School of Fine Arts, Athens where he taught until 1953. In 1959 he was elected a member of the prestigious Academy of Athens.

His subject matter includes portraiture, landscape and interiors in an impressionistic style characterised by masterly attention to light graduation.  

During the Second World War, he was appointed an official state artist to record battles of the Greek-Italian War. These works can be admired today in the collection of the National War Museum in Athens.

During his stay in Munich Argyros participated on numerous occasions at the prestigious Glaspalast Exhibition. After his return to Greece, he exhibited at the Venice Biennale (1934 and 1936).

His works are found in many public and private collections, notably: The National Gallery of Greece, the Athens Municipal Gallery, the Leventis Gallery, the Averoff Gallery, the National War Museum of Greece and the National Bank of Greece.