Retrospective Exhibition of Teresa Durá Branson paintings at The Tolbooth Art Centre, High Street, Kirkcudbright from 3 to 21 May 2017
TERESA DURÁ BRANSON – A GIFTED ARTIST
Teresa Durá Branson was born in Valencia, Spain, during the Spanish Civil War.
From early childhood she showed an inclination to explore the visual arts. In adolescence her sole aspiration was to become an artist.
In 1962, she met Roy Branson and they were married in London in 1964. The couple moved to Scotland and settled in the Highlands near Kyle of Lochalsh. The family moved to Kirkcudbright in 1970 and by 1971 they had a family of four. Her family remained the love and centre of her life. It was not until 1975 when the youngest started school, that Teresa was able to dedicate herself more fully to her art.
In 1978 Teresa held her first solo exhibition in Gracefield Art Centre, Dumfries, at which most of her seventy paintings were sold, the Art Centre acquiring one of them for their permanent collection. Teresa held several successful solo and joint exhibitions at the Chambers Art Gallery in Moffat, the Ottersburn Gallery in Dumfries, Castle Douglas Art Gallery, High St. Gallery and the Harbour Art Gallery, both in Kirkcudbright.
Her paintings are now in private and public collections in Scotland and abroad.
She played badminton enthusiastically, reached black belt standard in karate and ran many local half marathons. Within the community she taught Spanish at evening classes for many years. She taught Art Therapy weekly at the Leonard Cheshire Home, Dumfries and at Newton Stewart Resource Centre and Penninghame Open Prison.
She said “I want people to feel something when they look at my paintings, to feel happy or sad, amused or disgusted”.
Teresa painted steadily for several years to produce works for her final exhibition “In the mind’s eye”, in her home town of Kirkcudbright, at the Tolbooth Art Centre in May 2007. After over thirty years as an artist, Teresa finally put down her brushes when she realised that her artistic work was complete.
She was a visionary and a free thinker and embraced the gift of life, considering it to be a privilege. Teresa’s legacy lives on through her paintings.
Teresa Durá Branson passed away on 4th February 2016 in her 80th year. Many tributes were paid to Teresa, a well-known and gifted artist, who was a special friend to many in Kirkcudbright and Galloway. Her ashes are in Kirkcudbright cemetery under her headstone, with these words on the base. “Happiness is a grateful spirit, an optimistic attitude and a heart full of love.”
Councillor Tom McAughtrie, Chair of the Council’s Communities Committee said;
“The Kirkcudbright Tolbooth has supported local artists since its opening over 20 years ago, and we are very proud to exhibit Teresa Durá Branson’s work, a fitting memorial to a life dedicated to her art and her adopted community.”
Kirkcudbright Tolbooth is open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 1pm to 4pm.
