Ursula Pratt MBE - outside her gallery in Seaton
Prince Charles presenting. Ursula Pratt with her MBE. at Buckingham Palace
E
ast Devon is renowned for art galleries and exhibitions; in particular, the numerous galleries to be found in the coastal towns attract art lovers and collectors from far and wide. One character at the heart of this local scene is a lady called Ursula Pratt, who was recently awarded an MBE for her outstanding work raising money for charity through art. Ursula has an interesting life story, having been born in Hamburg, Germany and who has now settled in Colyford. As a child, Ursula experienced the war years in Germany and aged just thirteen her interest in supporting charities began. Through her tenacity and will to succeed, Ursula found many innovative ways to collect money for charity and this was recognised by Hamburg Social Services, who rewarded her efforts with a new pair of boots. A few years later when leaving school, it was very hard to find employment but being a resourceful young lady, Ursula became an apprentice to a master butcher in Hamburg. To develop her career as a butcher, she moved to Switzerland aged 18. Ursula became keen to learn the English language and culture, so at the age of 20 she moved to London, where she initially found work as a children’s nanny in Golders Green. Her first impressions were how welcoming and friendly the family that employed her were and she settled very quickly. Another striking impression for Ursula was how beautiful England was. Certainly not a
URSULA PRATT MBE - the driving force behind
East Devon Artists for Charity grey industrial country where men wore bowler hats and pinstriped suits, which was the impression learnt in her earlier years at school. Ursula married and had four children: two girls and two boys. It was unfortunate that the marriage to the father of her children broke down and Ursula struggled with her young family, with no support from either her husband or social security. She worked at several jobs to put food on the table, yet even through these difficult years, Ursula managed to carry out her charitable work. When working for the Xerox corporation her strength and determination raised money through the sale of her paintings and the company were so impressed with her efforts that they doubled the money she had raised for local charity. Ursula then met her second husband, Gerry, who was head of training at Xerox. They married and moved to Colyford shortly after retirement. With his full support, it was in 1992 that Ursula took over the arduous task of running the East Devon Artists for Charity group, which had been formed a year earlier. The group held art shows at Seaton each year and biannually at Branscombe. EAST DEVON
During the following 20 years the art shows, directed by Ursula and with the assistance of numerous helpers, have raised over £170,000 for charitable causes. It was Ursula’s relentless efforts to raise money for charity that led to her being proposed to receive an honour from the Order of the British Empire. In February last year, after she took British citizenship, Ursula was awarded an MBE by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace.
As a child Ursula experienced the war years in Germany and aged just thirteen her interest in supporting charities began
Ursula is open minded about the different styles performed by artists, although her own preference is to work with oils, where
Coast & Country
she feels she is able to be more creative. Even through the difficult years in her life, she would relax through painting, once the children were in bed. Ursula’s much admired work is instantly recognised as she portrays a story through various creatures; with scenes of local pubs, villages and shops involving hedgehogs, frogs, beetles and birds. Her depiction of the Napoli ship incident in Branscombe sold to go all over the world. Ursula is passionate about East Devon and chose Seaton in which to open her own gallery, aiming to provide artists with a platform to display their work and also to bring visitors in to the town. Gallery Usala has gone from strength to strength and Ursula acknowledges that her friend and renowned historic marine artist Barry Mason has provided unstinting support for her endeavours to promote high class painting. Her charity work will continue in 2013, with an exhibition at Pecorama in Beer at the end of April and another at Kennaway House, Sidmouth, in May, from which the money raised will be for the Devon Air Ambulance. Previous exhibitions have seen art enthusiasts and collectors alongside locals and tourists visit for the opportunity to view and purchase quality work from professional and amateur artists. And of course to chat to the friendly, enthusiastic host with a great sense of humour, Ursula Pratt MBE.
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