Originally a school music teacher and for many years a performer of a wide range of early music as an amateur, Charles Wells qualified in Musical Instrument Technology at the London College of Furniture (now London Guildhall University) in 1986. Ever since then he has been making and restoring early woodwind instruments as his full-time occupation. Originally specialising in transverse flutes and classical clarinets, he has more recently concentrated also on renaissance tabor pipes.

The instruments he makes are all very close copies of specific originals. Wherever possible he has examined closely and played the original Instruments and has, in his copies, reproduced as accurately as possible their playing characteristics. The pitch has, where necessary, been modified slightly to suit present day needs, and where practicable a range of pitches is available on request. It must be remembered, however, that altering the pitch of a woodwind instrument by anything approaching a semitone inevitably changes its tone and character.

Whenever practicable he uses traditional materials and methods and the boxwood instruments, when appropriate, are stained using nitric acid and finished with linseed oil. For ecological reasons, however, only imitation ivory is used.

He is constantly researching and working in order to develop and improve his range of instruments, and new models are added from time to time.

He also specialises in repairing and restoring to playing condition antique woodwind instruments, and will, to commission, make copies of particular instruments.