James Vandeleur Wigley (1917–1999) is an Australian painter known for his sensitive depictions of aboriginal camp scenes and desert landscapes.
During 1939 he spent time with his old school friend, the anthropologist, Ronald Berndt, at Murray Bridge, where he completed a series of portrait drawings of local people.
He moved to Melbourne in 1941 where he joined an army survey regiment, then a unit making relief maps and model aeroplanes used to train officers.
After his discharge from the army in 1943 he travelled to the Northern Territory to join Ronald Berndt at Daly River.
Following his return to Melbourne and two years of art study at the National Gallery School in an army rehabilitation course, Wigley travelled to Europe with fellow artist Yosl Bergner.