Charlie grew up on a farm in Surrey, leaving rural life for Oxford in 2009 for his undergraduate degree. He completed his MChem in 2013, working in the lab of Dr. Ed Anderson trying to synthesise alkynyl carbocycles via allenylpalladium intermediates.

Charlie then joined the Bristol Chemical Synthesis CDT in 2013, trying his hand in different labs until starting his Ph.D project jointly between the groups of Ian Manners and Charl Faul in the spring of 2014. Outside of the lab, he enjoys attempting to play snooker and travelling to faraway places.