Charles Mayes Wigg was born in Nottingham 13 January 1889, the eldest son of Mayes WIGG & Agnes nee SUDBURY. By 1893 the family were living in Watton, Norfolk where his father was a Bank Manager. He was educated at Gresham's School 1906. By 1909 they were living at Bank House, Cromer. In 1911 he studied art at Norwich School of Art and later with Frank Spenlove at his Yellow Door School of Art at Beckenham, Kent. A talent for art ran in the WIGG family – his aunt Fanny WIGG was listed as an artist in the 1891 Census.

During the First World War he was seriously wounded in Gaza and invalided out of the army around 1916. His injuries left him with walking difficulties. He subsequently found life afloat easier and for many years lived and painted in a boat on the Norfolk Broads. He had a studio at his parents' home, The Thatched House, Brundall, and at Rose Cottage, Barton Turf, from 1929.

The North Norfolk coast and Broadland scenery provided him with subjects for his watercolours and etchings. He was particularly fascinated by the Norfolk wherry. He painted very few oils. He exhibited regularly with the Norwich Art Circle from 1909-1936, once at the Royal Academy in 1915 and with the British Water-colour Society.

Following his marriage to his mother’s nurse in 1952 she prevented him from painting, breaking his brushes and together they burned his paintings. Later he tried to take up painting again but failed to achieve what he wanted. He died at St Mary's Hospital, Eastbourne, on 2 March 1969.