Charles, an artist, graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1970. He was awarded many scholarships which enabled him to study painting at RISD, attend the RISD Senior Year European Honors Program in Rome, Italy, study at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, and at Boston University where he received a Master degree in Painting. As an Arts Educator, Charles taught at Rhode Island School of Design, the University of Michigan, Bridgewater State College, Wesleyan University and Rhode Island College.

Charles received numerous awards for painting during his career including grants from the RI State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, an Arthur Rackham Grant from the University of Michigan and the Prix de Rome in Painting from the American Academy in Rome. He traveled throughout Europe and the United States and resided in Rome, Italy for two years. His work has been widely exhibited in galleries and museums and is in many private collections.