They may have reached retirement age, but Britain’s over-60s are far from hanging up their dreams.
A new survey has revealed that two thirds (60%) of those over the age of 60 still harbour ambitions to achieve something extraordinary — from painting a masterpiece to writing a novel or even taking to the stage as a stand-up comic — with 94% believing it’s ‘never too late to follow your passions.’
But it’s not just about dreams and ambitions. The research reveals that creativity plays a vital role in combating isolation. A striking 88% of respondents agree that creative hobbies help combat loneliness in later life, while nearly three quarters (72%) say taking part in creative activities helps them feel more connected to others.
The poll of almost 2,000, commissioned by art-K, the leading art education provider, found that two thirds (63%) feel more creative now than when they were in their 30s, with 88% of over 60s embracing new experiences and hobbies now more than ever before.
Those who engage in creative activities report wide-ranging benefits: 44% cite a sense of achievement, 34% say it improves their mood and happiness, and 31% report reduced stress and anxiety. The poll also revealed that 79% of respondents believe that creative pursuits help them feel “mentally younger,” while 81% think that hobbies like art, writing and music are vital for wellbeing in later life.
42% go a step further and say they avoid feeling it’s the end by learning something new to keep a young attitude. One in five (20%) say creative pursuits help them better connect with their grandchildren.
More than two thirds (69%) of over 60s are already engaged in a creative hobby. A huge 94% think that they are more creative and adventurous than the generations before them, so much so that 69% say they are more likely to achieve their creative aspirations now than in their younger life.
While 34% enjoy gardening, other creative indoor pursuits like art also feature strongly; 31% enjoy crafts such as knitting, sewing and woodwork, 27% cooking and baking, and 19% photography. One in eight (13%) paint and draw regularly.
When it comes to other indoor pursuits for the over-60s, their creative wish list includes learning a foreign language (33%), writing a best-seller (25%), coding and conquering AI skills (22%) and learning to play the piano (21%). One in six (15%) want to makeover their entire home, while 11% want to master a potter’s wheel.
Other creative aspirations include making jewellery (9%), being on TV (9%), painting a masterpiece (6%) and even hosting a podcast (5%).
Writing in art-K’s Creative Renaissance report, founder Kathryn Harper says:
“The findings highlight a powerful shift in how older Britons view creativity and ageing. This generation doesn’t see later life as a slow winding down. The tired assumptions about what people over 60 want from life aren’t just outdated they’re being actively rejected by the very people they claim to describe. There’s absolutely no expiry date on creativity. We see people in their sixties, seventies and beyond discovering new talents and confidence through art.
“The vast majority agree that creative hobbies help combat loneliness and that creative activities are vital for wellbeing in later life. These are not small effects. They are telling us something important about what human beings need to thrive, especially as they age. And at art-K we aim to provide the environment where adults find there is a creative distraction at the same time as socialising as much or as little as they are comfortable with.”
One in three (30%) also confess that they didn’t hit their creative peak until after their 60th, with 67 years old considered the creative peak. More than a third (38%) have already achieved a creative milestone since turning 60, with a quarter (25%) learning a completely new skill. One in six (17%) have joined a creative group or community, while 12% have sold their creative work.
Kathryn adds:
“I have seen retired solicitors discover they can draw. I have watched former engineers fall in love with watercolours. What strikes me most is not the art itself, though much of it is genuinely impressive. It is the change in the people. They stand taller, they smile more, they make friends. They are proving that creativity has no expiry date. It’s incredibly inspiring.”
Giles Field, 66, a retired civil servant from North London, picked up a paintbrush for the first time at 59:
“I was never confident in my ability to paint. But I’ve now developed my own style and I just wish I’d started sooner. The social element has been just as rewarding — the class is made up of people from all different backgrounds and I’ve met some lovely people, some of whom I’ve stayed in touch with even when we’re no longer in the same class. Painting has been good for my mental health. It gives you a sense of purpose and takes you away from daily worries. It brings reward, satisfaction, peace and calm.”
Penny Maystone, 62, a part-time business development consultant from Surrey, took up painting just over a year ago:
“What I hadn’t expected was the friendship. I met Sue in class and we bonded over a shared Matisse project. We gave each other tips and shared our paints. We experienced the challenges and delights of producing art together. It was never competitive, quite the reverse. I didn’t expect to make friends, but it’s evolved into that. It’s become about connection as much as creativity.”
More than a third (35%) of over-60s say they plan to take up a new creative pursuit this year — proof that Britain’s golden generation isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
It’s no surprise that 68% think that the idea that people over 60 just watch daytime telly, potter in the garden, play bingo and own a caravan is outdated and old fashioned, so much so that a sixth (15%) believe that a mid-life crisis is now more of a mid-life ‘glow up.’
Seven in ten (69%) believe that age is just a number. A further two thirds (76%) say that life began at 60, with 64% admitting that it gave them a new outlook on life. 73% realised that time is precious, 48% say their priorities changed, 47% realised what truly mattered to them and 45% decided they couldn’t care less what others thought about them. 44% said that life took an exciting turn at 60 because they had more free time, while 38% finally had a choice about what to do with that time.
This survey of 1,915 Britons aged 60 and over was commissioned by art-K and conducted by Perspectus Global during November 2025.
Founded in 2000, art-K is the leading art education provider for adults & children outside of school. Today the company employs over 100 permanent art teachers and hundreds of art assistants, all with professional art training backgrounds. Its 60 studios teach over 8,000 students every week, creating a safe space where people can feel comfortable exploring their artistic skills.
