Charles received his initial training at Hatherly's School of Art in London. In 1872 he began his studies at the Royal Academy in London and the Academie Julian in Paris. An exponent of plein-air painting, he painted atmospheric, naturalistic landscape and genre pictures. Charles worked mainly at his country estate of East Ashling House near Chichester and also had several stays on Capri. From 1875 to 1906 he regularly took part in exhibitions at the Royal Academy, and during 1897-1905 he exhibited occasionally in the Paris Salon.