Charles Pears working on an oil painting of ‘R.M.S. Orcades’
Born in the quiet market town of Pontefract, Yorkshire was an Englishman by the name of Charles Pears on 9 Sept. 1873. A professional illustrator from the time he was 17, Charles did his duty in the Royal Marines as an officer in World War I, although in his 40s at the time. He also served as an official war artist through the Second World War, by then in his later 60s, but still on the list of the Royal Naval Reserve. A thorough Englishman, he made his living by drawing and painting amazing and captivating travel images for the Empire Marketing Board, and British Railway as well as in periodicals like Punch and Yellow Book. Between 1902-1933, with a break for his wartime service, he illustrated more than 50 books ranging from A Christmas Carol to The Great War.
Whenever possible, it seems he tried to work warships into his commercial illustrations.
“Gibraltar” by Charles Pears, for the Empire Marketing Board, 1930. Note that its a travel poster– but he still was able to work in a plethora of Royal Navy ships on the horizon.
Again, its a travel poster– but you see the naval aspect clearly.
Charles Pears paid the bills through illustrating.
“New Fast Turbine Steamers” GWR poster, 1923-1947. Poster produced for the Great Western Railway (GWR) to promote the new turbine steamers St Julien and St Helier which operated on services between Weymouth and the Channel Islands. Artwork by Charles Pears, a marine painter in oil who was an Official Naval Artist during the World Wars. He worked as a poster artist for rail companies and other clients and was also a book illustrator. Dimensions: 1050 mm x 1300 mm.
Poster produced for the Great Western Railway (GWR) promoting rail travel to Paignton, South Devon. The poster shows a bathing belle waving a towel on the beach, with the promenade stretching out behind her and sunbathers enjoying themselves on the beach. Artwork by Charles Pears,
However it is is maritime art in oils that Pear excelled in. He lived in the age of the mighty dreadnought and as such, captured some of the best battleship painting ever to grace a canvas.
“HMS Queen Elizabeth” by Charles Pears. he Royal Society of Marine Artists; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation
“Transport by Sea: Supplying the Navy 1917″ by Charles Pears 1873-1958 Presented by the Ministry of Information 1918
Charles Pears “HMS Courageous in drydock”
“Battleship HMS Howe in Suez Canal”by Charles Pears. Click to very much biggup
“Jervis Bay action” by Charles Pears
“The Bombing of The British Chancellor in Falmouth Docks, 1940″ by Charles Pears
“British sub K22 in drydock at Rosyth, Winter” by Charles Pears. The Royal Society of Marine Artists; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation
“Streaming the para-vanes” by Charles Pears. The Royal Society of Marine Artists; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation
“HMS Ullswater torpedoed. ” by Charles Pears. The Royal Society of Marine Artists; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation
A motor launch recovering a torpedo. The Royal Society of Marine Artists; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation
Pears – Hard Lying
“A Boarding Party of Royal Naval Reserve Men Going Aboard a Prize under Searchlight” by Charles Pears
During WWII he painted “MV San Demetrio gets home” which was turned into a Post Office Savings Bank stamp.
“San Demetrio gets home” By Charles Pears. Collection of the IWM
His original artwork presently part of the collection of the National Maritime Museum, Imperial War Museum, and others. In all an amazing 83 of his works are held on public display in the UK.
Charles Pears, member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolor, Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the first elected President of the Society of Marine Artists, died in 1958 at age 84 in Cornwall, but his art is timeless. Many of the ships he captured are immortalized no where else and it is through his scholarship that generations who will never know the experience of a true leviathan ship of war, may gaze upon his art and remember.
Thank you for your work, sir.
