Sarah Pierroz has taught art for 20 years on four continents, along the way forming businesses in Canada and Thailand.

The founder of the new Black Pearl Art Academy says the process of setting up a business in Bermuda has been more complicated.

“In Canada, it is quite easy,” she said. “The licensing is straightforward and affordable. There is a lot of opportunity to take your own funds and set yourself up quickly.”

She said Thailand had a different structure for small business owners from overseas.

“You had to employ four Thai staff members for every foreigner, and pay for their social insurance,” she said. “That was the way the society protected itself. However, their banking system had its own challenges.”

In comparison she found there were a lot of upfront costs in Bermuda, as well as paperwork.

However, she also found more support here through organisations such as the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation.

“Any business venture has a lot of risk, but it is exciting,” Ms Pierroz said. “When you look at what you are trying to build and to what you can offer people then it is worth it.”

She was born in Canada, but has lived all over the world.

“I love travelling,” she said. “There is nothing like being in a new place to inspire the imagination.”

She first came to Bermuda in 2022.

“I was working on an international educational project the past few months and was thrilled to come back to share more of my passion here,” she said.

Black Pearl has two Bermudian partners who remain in the background.

Ms Pierroz noticed a lack of art opportunities for older children in Bermuda while teaching art in local schools.

“A lot of my students, ages 15, 16, 17, said they did not have art supplies at home and did not have anywhere to do art,” she said. “One of my students suggested I start a little art house or art studio. That planted the idea.”

She is now offering courses in drawing, painting, watercolour, acrylics, oils and observational landscape drawing. She can offer them in group format, privately or for corporate events and also online.

Black Pearl is looking for a permanent home.

“Because we have just started, it makes sense to do things within spaces that already exist and to collaborate with other businesses,” Ms Pierroz said. “It actually makes it more exciting, because I feel like we are able to add new experiences to businesses.”

Since launching in February she has worked with Front Street café Milan Milan, the Lifelong Learning Centre at the Bermuda College and the Aquarium, among other places.

She is also running figure-drawing classes out of the vault at the Botanist Café at the Masterworks Museum in Paget.

Ms Pierroz named the business Black Pearl Academy after her favourite piece of jewellery.

“I found a black pearl once while free diving,” she said.

Only one in 10,000 pearls are black, making them extremely rare.

“I always keep it close to me,” she said. “It is a metaphor for what I enjoy about the arts — being able to look at things with fresh eyes and find the rare beauty.”

So far, she has seen a diverse cross section of people take part in Black Pearl events.

“The love of art is a unifying force,” she said.

She does private classes and corporate events, and is planning to offer some through the Masterworks Museum in the autumn. She can provide materials and a customised approach.

Classes range from $65 to $120 an hour.

•For more information see blackpearlartacademy.com