Harold Copping was born in 1863. After studying at the Royal Academy School he visited Paris on a Landseer Scholarship. He became an accomplished illustrator and early books included Hammond's Hard Lines (1894), Miss Bobbie (1897), Millionaire (1898), A Queen Among Girls (1900), Pilgrim's Progress (1903), Westward Ho! (1903), Grace Abounding (1905), Three School Chums (1907), Children's Stories from Dickens (1911), Little Women (1912), Good Wives (1913), A Christmas Carol (1920) and Character Sketches from Boz (1924).

Copping was commissioned to produce illustrations for the Bible. To achieve authenticity for his illustrations he travelled in Palestine. The resulting book, The Copping Bible (1910), was a best-seller and led to more Bible commissions. This included A Journalist in the Holy Land (1911, The Golden Land (1911), The Bible Story Book (1923) and My Bible Book (1931).

As well as book illustrations, Copping contributed to the periodicals, The Leisure Hour, Little Folks, Pearson's Magazine, The Royal Magazine, The Temple Magazine and The Windsor Magazine.

Harold Copping, who lived in Shoreham and Sevenoaks, died in 1932.