James Wells Champney (July 16, 1843 – May 1, 1903) was an American genre and portrait painter.

He was born in Boston and first studied wood engraving there, then went to Europe and studied at the Antwerp Academy and under Edouard Frère in Paris. His paintings include landscape and genre subjects, but he is best known for his excellent pastel portraits, among which are those of William Winter, Henry M. Stanley, and Mary Mannering as "Daphne." His etchings and illustrations were also very popular. He was the husband of Elizabeth W. Champney.