Harold Gaze's contribution to the fairy genre of Australian children's literature, during the first part of the twentieth century was a marked departure from that of his contemporaries such as Ida Rentoul Outhwaite (q.v.). His work uses bizarre fantasy creations to explore themes including war in fairyland. His anthropomorphic composite creatures compliment the humour of his verse. He produced an alternative version of fairyland to the more traditional European form.
Knowledge of his art training is scanty but Robert Holden in A Golden Age, notes he is reputed to have studied at various art schools in London. Holden suggests his publications may indicate his movements. He wrote and illustrated seven children's books published in Melbourne between 1918 and 1921. The Melbourne phase of his publication history shows his talent for watercolour, silhouette and line drawing. Two publications in Auckland, New Zealand early in the 1920s suggest he may have returned there for a short period. His illustrations for Coppertop included portraits of a Sydney based model and six London publications between 1924 and 1931 may suggest he moved and worked there for varying periods.
In 1927 Gaze moved to Pasadena and in the 1930s he held a number of successful solo exhibitons in Los Angeles.
