For many, art has long been a dream deferred — a passion postponed by the practicalities of career, family, or financial stability. But a new exhibition in London’s Fitzrovia, titled Second Lives, shines a spotlight on those who have successfully transformed their professional pasts into artistic futures.
Curated by Jane Neal and Paula Lent, the show celebrates ten artists who came to art after establishing themselves in entirely different worlds — from finance and fashion to music, politics, and the culinary arts. Their stories challenge the romantic ideal of the lifelong artist, proving that creativity can flourish at any stage of life.
From the Boardroom to the Studio
History is full of artists who began elsewhere — Henri Rousseau was a customs officer, Paul Gauguin a stockbroker, and Louise Bourgeois a mathematician. Today’s “second-lifers” follow in that tradition.
Among the exhibitors is Nicole Farhi, once a celebrated fashion designer, whose evening classes in sculpture led to a mentorship with the late Eduardo Paolozzi. Now she creates powerful clay works that have earned her critical recognition.
Similarly, Lucille Lewin, founder of the fashion brand Whistles and former creative director of Liberty, left fashion behind to focus on ceramics. Her intricate, nature-inspired pieces draw on 18th-century porcelain traditions. “I fell in love with the smell of clay,” she says.
Kate Jackson, the former lead singer of indie band The Long Blondes, now paints large-scale depictions of brutalist architecture, inspired by the landscapes she observed on tour.
Helen Beard, once a film industry professional, found her calling in painting and needlepoint. Her bold explorations of female desire caught the attention of Damien Hirst, who championed her work and helped launch her artistic career.
Unlikely Transitions
Not all of the show’s participants come from creative backgrounds. Wesley Eberle, for instance, spent years as a political and communications consultant before turning to expressive, semi-abstract painting.
Davina Jackson, who trained at London’s Royal Academy Schools, put art aside to raise her three children — and later, to recover from breast cancer. Her quiet, meditative watercolours reflect resilience and renewal. In 2023, she won the Royal Watercolour Society Open Award and now serves as its honorary curator.
“You don’t get your children back, but you have the rest of your life to paint,” Jackson says. “The most successful artists are those who keep experimenting and taking risks.”
Reinventing Identity
Co-curator Paula Lent, who herself transitioned from a law career into the art world, acknowledges the emotional complexity of such a leap. “Being an outsider in a new profession is complicated. It can take longer to be accepted.”
Former chef Sophie Bayntun, once owner of a restaurant in Lymington, now paints vibrant scenes that evoke the warmth of hospitality. She compares the rigours of kitchen life to her current discipline: “People underestimate the level of work you need to put in to even be noticed as an artist.”
For Maryam Eisler, who started in banking and brand management, then devoted years to raising two children, photography became her full-time calling. Her black-and-white portraits of women exude elegance and intensity. “I live, eat and dream photography,” she says. “I’m never on holiday.”
A Practical Foundation for Passion
Having prior financial stability helps many second-career artists manage the costs of studio space and retraining. Eisler admits that money offers freedom but can also lead to bias: “People make assumptions when you come from a comfortable background.”
David Rae, the youngest artist in the show, illustrates the opposite reality. To support his painting practice, he works as an art handler at Lyon & Turnbull, a Scottish auction house. “You need something secure — studio rent alone can cost £1,000 a month,” he explains.
A Reflection of Changing Times
The phenomenon of second careers in art also mirrors wider social and economic trends. Lent points out that multiple careers are becoming the norm, particularly as automation reshapes traditional work. “The idea of doing more than one job is coming earlier for the next generation,” she says.
And while women dominate this exhibition — often finding the space for art after raising families — men, too, are rethinking career paths. Former Airbnb and Facebook creative director Edward Vince, for example, has retrained as a sculptor, exploring themes of disappointment and reinvention.
Rediscovering Joy
For all these artists, the move into art represents more than a career shift — it’s an emotional renewal. Lewin calls her artistic practice “a physical blow of love.” Eisler describes her photography as “my Xanax.”
Many also see their first careers not as detours but as foundations. Farhi credits fashion with teaching her discipline and form. Bayntun likens painting to plating a dish — both acts of composition and balance.
As Neal and Lent prepare to expand Second Lives into a broader platform encouraging people to pursue their creative passions, the message is clear: it’s never too late to start again.
“A second life,” says Eisler, “is about not taking everything too seriously — about allowing yourself to enjoy the process. Once the practical parts of life are done, what remains is the freedom to create.”
