John J. Coutts
John J. Coutts is a Scottish poet, preacher, and broadcaster. He served as the Poet in Residence at Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum from 2015 to 2021.
Early life and education
Coutts was born in 1934 in Clydebank, Scotland. He earned a first-class degree in English language and literature from Lincoln College, Oxford.Career
Coutts pursued his career in Nigeria and England.Coutts has translated sections of The Complete Works of Alexander Pushkin in English, including the epic poem Poltava and various lyrical pieces. In 2010, The Handsel Press published his poetry collection titled Lines of a Lifetime.
His theatrical works include Shakespeare in Stirling, a play that imagines William Shakespeare visiting Scotland. The play was part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Open Stage project and was performed by the Riverside Drama Club. Coutts also created A Box of Surprises, a solo performance piece that combines poetry and storytelling. He also writes scripts and performance poetry for young audiences.
From 1953 to 1954, Coutts studied Russian and played rugby at the Joint Services School for Linguists. In the 1980s, he briefly held the position of Keston's representative in Moscow.
Coutts has contributed to BBC Radio Scotland's Thought for the Day program. In 2015, he published his autobiography, Was That Me? Memories of a Long Spent Youth.
In September 2015, Coutts was appointed Poet in Residence at The Smith Art Gallery and Museum by its then-director, Elspeth King. He organized the monthly Poetry Roundabout at the museum, an open event where participants can present their own poetry or share their favorite poems, until 2021.
In 2017, together with David Smith, Coutts compiled a book of poetry themed around the museum's cat, Oswald. Titled Oswald's Invitation: Oswald the Cat’s Book of Poems for Fun and Finding Out, the book was distributed to every school within the Stirling Council area.
Coutts is a lifelong member of The Salvation Army.
Awards and recognition
- 2017: National Drama Award