Charles Buchel (Karl August Buchel)  was born in Mainz, Germany. His familiy emigrated to England when he was a child.
He studied art at the Royal Academy Schools. There he was hired by the actor-manager, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in 1898, and worked with him for sixteen years.
Buchel painted several portraits of Tree, and also designed theatrical programmes and advertising posters, programmes for the theatre. He drew many illustrations for the theatre magazines of his day. He is best remembered for having painted many of the stage stars of his era, including Lily Langtry, Henry Irving and George Alexander.