Charles Pears established himself illustrating for periodicals such as the Illustrated London News and Punch before becoming a prolific poster artist during the inter-war period. The poster medium suited his distinctive graphic style and bold use of colour and he worked with London Underground, the Empire Marketing Board and various rail companies. A keen yachtsman, the sea inspired much of his output and eventually led him to become the first President of the (Royal) Society of Marine Artists in 1939. His vast knowledge of ships and high degree of technical precision made him an ideal appointment as a war artist with the government seeking accurate records during wartime. In the First World War he held a commission in the Royal Marines and was an official war artist to the Admiralty, before working for the War Artists' Commission during the Second World War. Pears’ work can be found in important public collections, including Imperial War Museum, National Maritime Museum and National Railway Museum.