Harry Harrison was born in England but because his father was in the British Royal Air Force the family moved around a lot until he was 12. Harrison lived in Libya and for several years in Singapore. He was educated in England and left school around 16 years of age. After a career path that included working in a supermarket, in screen writing and advertising, Harrison worked as a freelance illustrator in London, Sydney and Hong Kong. He has worked as a political cartoonist for the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), and as an illustrator of children's books. He has also contributed to Far Eastern Economic Review, Wall Street Journal Asia, and Time Asia.
He met his wife in Hong Kong. They have two children, Charlie and Lucy.