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I think that's a really interesting question.  We know that certain aspects of genes can be turned on or off depending on biological environment, why not circumstance as well?

All four of my grandparents were proficient artists, but only one pursued it as a profession.  My parents had a 'natural' ability to draw things, and I myself went to art college for a year.  Both my children are talented artists, but do not pursue it as careers.  I don't know how far back this apparent artistic ability goes, if at all, as most ancestors were labourers.

I suspect we all have artistic ability within us and it is circumstance that predicts its promotion or not.  Paper, pens, paints, pictures and glue were always available to me as a child, and I made sure they were to my children too, so they became good, practiced artists.  However, I like the idea that where someone becomes highly accomplished and hones their artistic senses on all levels, emotionally, even somatically, then maybe this translates into tiny genetic alterations that can be passed on and recur. 

Thanks for such a lovely question that really made me think!