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Charles Pears

British, 1873 - 1958

BiographyCharles Pears was a marine painter in oil, illustrator, engraver and lithographer. Born in Yorkshire in 1873 he initially worked as a professional illustrator contributing to the 'Illustrated London News', 'Graphic' and 'Punch'. In World War I he held a commission in the Royal Marines and was an official war artist to the Admiralty. During World War II he worked for the War Artists' Commission. Pears was a keen yachtsman and an expert on ships which lent a high degree of accuracy to his work. As a designer of posters, his images for the London Metropolitan Railway (‘Southend’, 1915) and the Empire Marketing Board (‘The Empire Highway to India’, 1928) reached a wide audience.

Pears was first president of the Society of Marine Artists and published several books on maritime themes including 'From the Thames to the Seine',' South Coast Cruising' and 'Going Foreign'. Pears is represented in the Imperial War Museum and the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. He died in Truro in January 1958 and is commemorated in the Charles Pears Memorial Award at the annual exhibition of the Royal Society of Marine Artists.

Person TypeIndividual