Born at West Bromwich, West Midlands. Known date of working in West Cornwall is recorded in Edgbastonia 1881 (copy of the article on file in WCAA).

Roger Langley, in his latest research on the life and work of his grandfather, Walter LANGLEY, comments 'Charles Henry Whitworth might justifiably be regarded as one of the two 'invisible' Newlyn artists, along with William ROLLASON, for little is known of either yet both exhibited numerous Newlyn scenes over a good period of years - longer, indeed, than many of the better known artists.'

Whitworth was born at West Bromwich and studied at Birmingham School of Art, where he was a younger contemporary of Edwin HARRIS, William BREAKSPEARE and Walter LANGLEY. Soon after they all finished their studies in 1879, the move toward West Cornwall was gathering steam. In 1881 he was one of the Birmingham group that were listed as lodging at Cliff House, Newlyn.

Langley lists an extensive list of his paintings spanning the years 1881 (Grey Day, Fishing Boats Returning exhibited at the Birmingham Art Circle exhibition) through 1893 (Calm Morning, Mounts Bay, oil) with multiples in between.  In 1901, at the age of 45, Whitworth (a bachelor) was the Headmaster of the School of Art in Newcastle under Lyme, Staffs.

Whitworth died on 31 January 1933, age 77, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (GRO).