Book Description
Gaze (1884-1963) was one of the most original illustrators working during the first half of the 20th century. He was born in New Zealand to English parents but his mother returned to England with her sons as a result of her husband's adultery and Gaze went on to study art, spending some time in the theatrical profession while trying to establish himself as an artist. At the outbreak of WWI he was rejected for active service and became involved in the munitions industry instead, travelling to New York where he published his first book of illustrations in 1917. Over the next several decades he lived and worked in Australia, New Zealand and the USA illustrating many books - some he had written himself, others by different authors - and for a short time joined a team working on Walt Disney's Fantasia. He returned to England in 1959 where he settled in Hampstead for his final years.