From statistics to stained glass: a midlife artistic awakening
Profile of Karen McPhail, winner of The Hidden Gem in The Plot Twist Awards
The Plot Twist Awards happened because and I were frankly bored of seeing the same old success stories (usually involving some 25-year-old who "discovered their purpose" after precisely three minutes of soul-searching). Instead, we've rounded up 30-plus genuinely fascinating midlife women who've zigged when life zagged, created brilliant second acts or simply refused to shuffle into beige cardigans. These are all women with stories worth stealing courage from. We're now sharing these gems, planning a celebration party and plotting a coffee table book that won't end up as a dust collector.
First up, the story of a career researcher who discovered stained glass art at 50, and now immortalises inspiring women in her creations.
While her teenage self opted for textbooks over art supplies, stained glass maker Karen McPhail found her way back to creativity through a delightfully non-linear career path. Today, she crafts stunning glass portraits of women who've changed the world – from witches to suffragettes to modern activists – proving it's never too late to let your heart have a say.
"I should probably have chosen art at school. I was always doodling and sketching. But my head ruled my heart and I followed an academic route into university, then HIV/AIDS and addictions research. I published scientific papers, spoke at international conferences and got a buzz from statistics."
Karen’s first plot twist came in the voluntary sector, where she discovered her knack for creative problem-solving in challenging environments.
"Being able to run a 2-hour workshop with a group of young men referred by the court for drug offences, with only a crate of alcohol, a flipchart and pens as props taught me to think on my feet and work with the materials in front of me."
Parenthood brought another sensible chapter – a stable NHS research job that morphed into technology project management, complete with an MBA and eventually, a leap into freelance work. Her head was firmly in charge, delivering consistent success, but something felt missing.
"Through serendipity and seemingly being quite good at it, I've only had one short spell without a contract in 10 years. But still no art."
Finding her medium at fifty
Then came the unexpected plot twist at 50 – an almost accidental creative awakening that shattered her previous patterns.
"Just before I turned 50, my drive to collect academic qualifications was ostensibly replaced by a drive to create beautiful things in glass. It wasn't deliberate. I just fancied trying it, as I had always had a fascination with stained glass. I taught myself through trial and error and YouTube."
What started as a personal exploration quickly gained momentum as others recognised the beauty in her work.
"I didn't have a plan to make a business out of it, but people kept asking to buy what I made. Then they started asking me to make things for special occasions. Then I found myself signing up to two city centre markets every month and creating a website and an online shop. I couldn't stop making things and it made me inordinately happy."
Unlike many creative businesses pressured to follow market demands, she made the refreshing choice to prioritise passion over profit.
"I have made the decision not to make things purely to sell them. Lots of people give me 'helpful' suggestions about what I should make to keep the customers coming, but I'd rather love what I do."
A hidden gem illuminating remarkable women
Karen’s most meaningful work emerged when she began creating stained glass portraits of remarkable women whose stories deserve more light.
"It started with women accused of being witches that were painted on my local library building, then suffragettes, then the contemporary poet Amanda Gorman, the FGM campaigner Jaha Dukureh and the civil rights/education activist Septima Poinsette Clark."
She recently made two enormous portraits for an exhibition in London as part of the Mortal and Strong campaign, to raise awareness of health issues.
Head vs heart: when stained glass shatters expectations
Today, Karen's gradually shifting the balance between her practical freelance work and her artistic calling, while also sharing her skills through teaching. She’s cut down her freelance work to 4 days a week to make more time for glass, and would love to shift the balance even more. She now makes pieces for homes, exhibitions, galleries and events and firmly believes that what you display in the space around you can reflect your values, as well as being beautiful.
If she could whisper advice to her younger self about the journey ahead, it would be simple but profound - "Following your head is often the right thing to do, but never ignore your heart completely."
Letting your creative side emerge at 50 might be perfect timing after all
In a world that often speaks to midlife women in patronising tones, Karen creates art that celebrates female power. Her story reminds us that sometimes our most authentic work emerges not from a carefully plotted career strategy, but from finally giving ourselves permission to create what brings us joy – even if it takes half a century to get there.
And for someone who feels uncomfortable nominating herself because "it all feels very LOOK AT ME!" – we're delighted that Karen overcame her hesitation. Sometimes the women making the most beautiful statements through their work deserve to step into the light themselves.
Your turn: what’s waiting to shine?
What creative passion might you have set aside that's still waiting for its moment to shine? Sometimes the most meaningful work emerges not from our carefully planned careers, but from finally giving ourselves permission to create what brings us joy in midlife.
Connect with Karen
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🐦⬛ I help midlife women just like us talk about our businesses and position our skills so that other people want to pay for them. I do it with messaging/positioning strategy and copywriting. And I work with midlife women because I'm convinced we should take over the world and all would be well. Not even half-joking 😂
If you want to talk about positioning your work, messaging strategy, web copy or email marketing, we can have a zero-pressure chat. You can reach me (Sue Moore) at inktank@substack.com
I’m Sue Moore, The Midlife Messaging Strategist & Copywriter. I share smart stuff for writers, plus musings on building a business in midlife.