Painter, draughtsman, printmaker and teacher, born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. He studied at Grimsby School of Art, then Leicester College of Art. He taught mainly in Newark, Nottinghamshire. Brannan was elected RBA in 1960 and was president of Lincolnshire and South Humberside Artists. He showed in mixed exhibitions at RA, NEAC, LG and elsewhere, having a series of solo shows with Trafford Gallery, one at Usher Gallery, Lincoln, 1978, and a retrospective at Goldmark Gallery, Uppingham, in 1995. Usher Gallery, Grundy House Museum in Blackpool and Lincolnshire Education Committee hold his work. Brannan admired the work of French Post-Impressionists, also Cotman and Chardin. Lived in Welbourn, Lincoln.