Charles Pears was a British painter of marine subjects and a poster artist. Born in Pontefract, Yorkshire, he studied nearby at East Hardwick and Pomfret College, where he started a lifelong appreciation of Venetian artist, Canaletto (1697-1768).

Active from 1890, Charles Pears worked as an illustrator throughout his career. His early illustrated works were included in periodicals such as The Yellow Book, Punch, The Graphic and Salt-Water Poems and Ballads by John Masefield.

Pears is best known as a marine painter, where he often signed his work as Chas Pears. Pears was the first elected President of the Royal Society of Marine Artists*. His works were exhibited from 1904 to 1939 in London as he had moved...