George Henry Andrews was born in Lambeth, England, and early in life was educated to be an engineer. The source of his training is unknown, but by 1840 he was an active book illustrator, and by 1847 was on the artistic staff of the Illustrated London News. In 1837 he accompanied Richard W.H. Howard-Vyse on an archaeological expedition to Egypt, where he served as an engineer and illustrator for Howard-Vyse's three-volume Operations Carried on at the Pyramids of Gizeh (London, 1840-42). His work was also featured in The Crystal Palace, and its Contents: Being an Illustrated Cyclopedia of the Great Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations (London, 1852).