John Codner

John Whitlock Codner (June 1913 – August 2008) was a British painter and wartime camouflage officer. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and his works remain in major collections to this day.

Biography

Early life John Codner was born in Beaconsfield in 1913. He was the son of the society painter Maurice Codner, whose friend Sir Alfred Munnings encouraged John Codner to paint. He was educated at St. Edward's School, Oxford. He sailed to Egypt on the RMS Samaria, in a contingent of artists turned camoufleurs that included: Steven Sykes (a stained glass artist) Edward Bainbridge Copnall (a sculptor), Jasper Maskelyne (a stage magician) and Peter Proud (a film art director). and under Steven Sykes on Operation Crusader. He worked from his studio in Stokenham in Devon and was an honorary member of the Bristol Savages. He exhibited his paintings at the Royal Academy and the RWA.