Charles Pears | |
|---|---|
 Pears in 1948 | |
| Born | (1873-09-09)9 September 1873[1] Pontefract, Yorkshire |
| Died | 28 January 1958(1958-01-28) (aged 84)[1] |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Naval andmarine art |
Charles PearsRIROI[1]RSMA (9 September 1873 – 28 January 1958) was a British painter, illustrator and artist. His work was part of the art competitions at the1928 Summer Olympics and the1932 Summer Olympics.[3]
Born inPontefract, Yorkshire, he studied nearby at East Hardwick and Pomfret College,[2][4] where he started a lifelong appreciation ofCanaletto.[5] Active from 1890, he worked as an illustrator throughout his career. His early illustrated works were included in periodicals such asThe Yellow Book,Punch,The Graphic andSalt-Water Poems and Ballads byJohn Masefield.[2]
Pears is best known as a marine painter, where he often signed his work asChas Pears. Pears was the first elected President of theRoyal Society of Marine Artists.[2] His works were exhibited from 1904 to 1939 in London having moved there, and he also wrote a number of books on small boat cruising.
A commissioned officer in theRoyal Marines during theFirst World War, Pears worked also worked as an officialWar Artist during both the First and Second World Wars.[2] His Second World War poster entitled"MVSan Demetrio gets home" was issued by thePost Office Savings Bank,[6] with the original artwork presently part of the collection of theNational Maritime Museum.
From 1913 to 1936, Pears was a prolific poster artist, working forLondon Underground.[7] He also created posters for theEmpire Marketing Board,[1] theMetropolitan Railway,Southern Railway,London, Midland & Scottish Railway,London & North Eastern Railway andGreat Western Railway. He latterly created works forBritish Railways.
Pears moved toSaint Mawes, Cornwall in semi-retirement, and died inTruro on 28 January 1958.[5]
Today his artworks are held in the collections of theLondon Transport Museum,[7]National Maritime Museum,National Railway Museum,[8]Imperial War Museum,[9] andTate.[10] He is commemorated in a prize at the Royal Society of Marine Artists, the Charles Pears Memorial Award.[5]
