Charles Tole (1903-1988) was a painter who played an important part in the development of art in the Auckland region from the 1940s. Tole was an active member of the Auckland Society of Arts and the Thornhill Group, contributing a body of work which addressed the subject of industrial landscape in a cubist-derived, modernist style. His older brother John Tole (1890-1957) was also an influential figure in the Auckland art scene. Together they visited John Week's studio in 1938, they were impressed with the quality and range of work they saw in his studio and were especially impressed with his 'Cubist paintings'

During World War II Charles Tole served in the army, and during the winter of 1942, whilst in Rotorua military camp, he met the medical officer and painter, Wilfred Stanley Wallis. Neither artist knew of their interest in painting until they met again at an Auckland Society of Arts function some years later.