At British Art Fair 2026, a feature exhibition, Born To, curated by Jo McLaughlin and supported by PensionBee as part of its Born to Retire campaign, will showcase five artists selected from an open call for artists aged 50 and over, which received more than 500 entries.

Shown alongside pieces by established modern and contemporary British artists including Maggi Hambling (Christopher Kingzett) and Dia al-Azzawi (Richard Saltoun Gallery), five entirely new voices will be placed in direct conversation with some of the most celebrated names in British art. 

Each of the five selected artists – Mike Kelly, Annie Luke Turner, Myrna Mitchell, Kas Williams and Richard Wilshire – came to their creative practice later in life, whether after raising a family, following a career in another field, or simply when time allowed, offering a timely reminder that being an emerging artist doesn’t have to mean being fresh out of art school.