The son of a builder, Charles Wilson, served his architectural apprenticeship under the auspices of that other great Glasgow architect David Hamilton. During the period from 1827 to 1837 he contributed to the design and building of Hamilton Palace, Lennox Castle and Toward Castle. In Glasgow, he worked with Hamilton on the conversion of the Cunningham Mansion into the Royal Exchange.

Charles Wilson left the David Hamilton practice in 1837 to enter into partnership with his brother John. Their partnership ended in 1839 and Wilson set up his own practice at 41 George Square. The first two years would see him occupied with commissions to build a series of small churches and villas. In 1841, he was commissioned to design and build the Glasgow Royal Asylum for Lunatics at Gartnavel.