Wade grew up reading comics and began to create his own. While in primary school, Syd Miller awarded him the first prize of £1 War Saving certificate for his entry in a comic strip competition. Wade attended Sydney Technical High School and became a devout Christian. He studied art at East Sydney Technical College and worked at Fullarton Artists, an advertising art studio in Pitt Street, Sydney.

Wade offered his services to the Church Missionary Society. He designed their 150th anniversary exhibition and provided supporting comic book material for children.

He was asked to convert Paul White's Jungle Doctor stories into comic strips for a monthly children’s mission publication, beginning with Jungle Doctor Meets a Lion (~1950). His first book collaboration was probably Jungle Doctor Looks for Trouble (1953). The books have been translated into many languages and published in countries such as Germany, Britain, the USA and many developing countries.

In 1959, Wade illustrated the the songbook cover for US preacher Billy Graham's Australian tour (Australian Women's Weekly, 11 February 1959).

In 1964, He founded the not-for-profit advertising agency Pilgrim International, with Paul White as founding Chairman. The agency directed profits to Christian work and notably represented World Vision. The company still operates, funding projects to preach Christianity and awarding the Graham Wade Pilgrim Media Prize.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, Wade illustrated a number of children's books. He was also a film maker and created Christian TV commercials featuring quick sketches of Bible stories. As an active evangelist, he focused on youth ministry and used his artistic skills in lessons with children.

Wade's association with the Jungle Doctor books continued after the author established his own company Paul White Productions in 1971. He adapted several stories into comic book format beginning in 1975. Twelve titles were produced in black and white (with a few possibly illustrated by other artists) and subsequently printed in colour from 1981. Sales have been estimated to exceed half a million copies in Australia.

Wade created other comics for Bible Society of Australia and the United Bible Societies internationally, all unsigned and usually not credited. He was responsible for bringing COMIX35 Christian Comics Seminars to Sydney in 1998 and 2006, and was involved with COMIX35's International Christian Comics Competitions.

As late as 2008 he was still producing comics. He produced six 16-page colour, A6-size "DollarComics" for CEP/Anglican Youthworks, including Who Is This Man? (stories from the Gospel of Mark), God's Gift the Saviour (the birth of Jesus, based on Matthew and Luke), and Easter - He Is Alive (the story of Easter).