Born in Glasgow and after studying at Glasgow School of Art, Charles went on to do a post-graduate course at the Slade School of Art in London. In 1981 he was seconded to English National Ballet as an Arts Council Trainee Designer. From 1982-86 Charles was Associate Designer with the Library Theatre, Manchester.Since 1986 he has been working freelance for most of the theatres in Britain. Designing many dramas, musicals and pantomimes. Charles has designed many musicals including: the European premières of Sondheim's "Follies" and "Pacific Overtures", "West Side Story", "Company", "Beehive", "Hold Tight It's 60s Night", co-designer of "Hot Stuff" and "Heavenly Bodies", "A Slice of Saturday Night" with Barbara Dickson, and the latest musical-biography "Dusty" of Dusty Springfield, starring Mari Wilson; "Edward II" starring Eddie Izzard; the costumes for "Something Else" (Boyzone tour in 1997); "Rock Around The Dock" (Granada TV); the Stage Design for the International Windmill Club; most recently in London "The Guardsman" starring Greta Scacchi.
In 1996 Charles began to design opera and ballet productions abroad: "The Wall", "Nabucco", "Otello", "Aïda" and "Don Carlos" (Germany); "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Nutcracker" (Estonian National Opera); "Il Trovatore" (Grand Theatre, Cultural Centre, Hong Kong).
Future productions include: "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (UK) and "Der Rosenkavalier" (Germany).
Charles was awarded Best Designer in 1986 by the Manchester Evening News and won the TMA Award for Best Design for "The Plough and the Stars" in 1993.
As an Artist he has exhibited at The Royal Academy, London, The South West Royal Academy in Bristol. In 1998 a solo exhibition was held in Tallinn, Estonia supported by The British Council, Baltics. Other exhibitions include: at The Gloucester Art Gallery and Museum; at the Axiom Centre with The Cheltenham Group during the International Music Festival; The Sherwell Centre, Plymouth until January 2003.