James Townsend Wigney (1816-1892)

James Wigney was born in Hudderfield about 1816 and worked there for a number of years as a photographer between 1863 and 1868. At a similar time between 1861 and 1867 Wigney worked in the season at Scarborough in the Assembly Rooms, Huntriss Row. In the Scarborough Gazette recommended Wigney out of the large number of photographers in the town when people asked ‘to whom much we sit?’ By 1867 he had established an art gallery on Marine Parade where he held annual exhibitions of modern paintings charging 6d entrance.

He settled in the town after the creation of this gallery, giving up photography and settling in favour of dealing in pictures and fine art.

portrait of an unknown seated woman by James Wigney, Scarborough
Carte de visite portrait by Wigney, Scarborough Photographer
back of carte de visite by James Wigney of Scarborough and Huddersfield
Back of a Carte de Visite by Wigney of Scarborough, Yorkshire

Portrait of an unknown woman,

Carte de visite

Portrait of an unknown man,

Carte de visite

Photographic Practice

  • Portraiture

Studios

The Assembly Rooms, Huntriss Row, Scarborough, 1861-1867

Ramsden Street, Huddersfield, 1863-1868

Marine Parade, Scarborough, from 1867

References

Adamson, K.I.P., 1996, p9

Bayliss, A. and P., 1998, p72

Museum Collections

National Portrait Gallery, London - Katherine Hickson