A major book on the art and life of John Rigby was launched at the Queensland Art Gallery by its Director Doug Hall on 26 November 2003. The 239-page publication includes 211 artworks, almost 200 in colour, spanning from the 1940s to 2003. A wide range of works are featured, including human image, landscapes, still lifes and abstracts in a variety of media.

Artist and art critic John Millington has written the text from the standpoint of an artist and an art historian. Mark Rigby has carried out extensive research for the book and it contains a comprehensive biography, bibliography and details on hundreds of artworks.

The book, published by Playright Publishing (Sydney), shows a lifetime endeavour in the field of Art, a joyous journey encapsulating the sensations of colour, light and warmth of Queensland.

Queensland Art Gallery Director Doug Hall says in his foreword that "John Rigby ... will leave a permanent mark on Queensland and Australian art ... This book, which outlines his remarkable career, is a fitting record of his life and his art."