Charles held Dogfish as his family crest and was grandfather to celebrated Haida artist, Bill Reid. Charles was also the nephew of Charles Edenshaw and the brother of argillite carver Louis Collinson. Charles Gladstone is known for being a talented artist in various media: wood, argillite and silver. He had worked under Charles Edenshaw in learning ancient Haida formline design and carving techniques, and was one of the few artists who continued this traditional style into the mid-1900s.