Charles has been writing and illustrating since 1988. His first picture book, BUSH VARK’S FIRST DAY OUT, won The Macmillan Prize and was published whilst he was in his second year at Camberwell School of Art. A year later it went on to win The Mother Goose Award for best newcomer to children’s picture books.

Charles was brought up and educated in Bath, lived in Camberwell for almost twenty years and now lives in Dorset with his partner, Sarah, and their son Ollie. He is passionate about the natural world and its preservation hence he concentrates on animals and nature in his illustrations.