Jonathon Coudrille facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jonathon Coudrille
Coudrille in 2009
Born	November 1945 Birmingham, England
Alma mater	Penzance School of Art
Occupation	Broadcaster, musician, artist, writer
Parent(s)	Francis Coudrill (father)

Jonathon Xavier Coudrille (born Jonathan Coudrill in November 1945) is a talented English artist, musician, and writer. He grew up and still lives on the beautiful Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, England. His father, Francis Coudrill, was also an artist and a ventriloquist. In 2011, Jonathon started a group called the Lizard Stuckists, which is part of an art movement.

Jonathon Coudrille's Career

Jonathon Coudrille is known as a polymath, which means he is skilled in many different areas. He has made important contributions in broadcasting, art, music, and writing.

Broadcasting Work

Jonathon started his career in broadcasting when he was 17 years old. After attending the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, he appeared on BBC Plymouth and Westward Television. He even had his own show called Young Tomorrow. He also worked on BBC Radio's Today programme.

Later, he moved to Southern Television, where he continued with musical political satire. He was also the musical director for the station for a time. Sadly, his broadcasting career ended suddenly in 1972 after a car accident. This accident caused him spinal damage.

Artistic Creations

Jonathon Coudrille studied painting with a famous English surrealist artist named John Tunnard. He learned from Tunnard at the Penzance School of Art.

In 1971, Jonathon created the artwork for the first album by the rock band Fuzzy Duck. He also illustrated a book called A Fresh Wind in the Willows by Dixon Scott. This book was a sequel to the classic story The Wind in the Willows. It was published in 1983 in the UK and in 1987 in the United States.

During the 1990s, Coudrille's art was shown at important places like the Royal Academy in London. In 2004, his work was part of a show called The Stuckists Punk Victorian at the Walker Art Gallery during the Liverpool Biennial.

Some of his recent art, like the photo collage Analogue of Surreal Nostalgia (2005), is kept permanently at the Falmouth Art Gallery. Jonathon was also interviewed about his life and paintings for a TV show called John Nettles' Westcountry, which was shown on Sky Arts.

Musical Talents

Jonathon Coudrille is a talented multi-instrumentalist. He plays and writes music for the guitar, seven-string banjo, piano, organ, and trumpet. He is especially interested in jazz, Russian, and gypsy music.

In the 1960s, Jonathon played music in Soho. During his time in broadcasting, he composed and arranged music for TV and radio. His guitar performance of Francisco Tárrega's Recuerdos de la Alhambra was the theme song for Jack Hargreaves' long-running show Out of Town.

In 1974, he won the top rock-folk soloist award in the Melody Maker's national folk contest. Later, in the 1980s, he performed his own composition, Caballeta Suite for Spanish guitar, with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Today, Jonathon is a member of two music groups. He plays with Gwelhellin Goth, a Cornish jazz band, and with Muzika Muzikantov, a Russian folk music duo.

Writing and Illustrating Books

After his car accident, Jonathon Coudrille started writing and illustrating children's books to help with his recovery. This unexpected path led him to become an award-winning author and illustrator.

His first illustrated alphabet book, A Beastly Collection, was published in 1974. It was published by Frederick Warne & Co, the same company that published Beatrix Potter's books. The book was highly praised and compared to the work of John Tenniel.

His second book, Farmer Fisher (1975), became a best-seller. It won the UK Children's Book of The Year award in 1976. Farmer Fisher was special because it was one of the first picture books in the UK to include a small record (a 7-inch vinyl disc). The book was republished in 1978 and again in 2010.