Harvey was both a wood engraver and an illustrator. He was apprenticed first to Thomas Berwick in Newcastle where he was born and eventually became the most popular and prolific illustrator in the first half of 19th century England.

Harvey was one of the first to use outside engravers to speed up his work. His elegant "mannered" style, almost entirely devoid of humour, eventually went out of fashion. Nevertheless, it is Harvey who must receive the credit of having revolutionised early 19th century English book illustration.