It was a huge gamble when married couple Kevin Lombard and Judith Paixao left lucrative careers in the US to venture to the Island.But both say packing up and moving here to explore their passion for the arts was worth the risk.Mr Lombard is an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker; Ms Paixao worked for noted jewellers H Stern in Brazil and New York.They put their jobs on hold and are currently serving artists-in-residence with Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art.Their exhibit features a screening of Mr Lombard’s documentary, ‘Entry By Sea’, based on the Island’s sea glass history. It also showcases Ms Paixao’s intricate designs in the jewellery exhibit, Wedded to the Sea. Both will be on display until July 25.The couple were first inspired to venture here four years ago by their Bermudian daughter-in-law Rinear Thatcher-Coulter. While visiting Masterworks, the pair learned about the artist-in-residence programme on offer.“We thought ‘how cool would that be?’,” said Ms Paixao.They didn’t tell anyone about their idea.“We decided to quietly apply on the sly and just see if one of us could get it. [Kevin] applied to do a documentary on sea glass and I applied to do jewellery-making and teach these to Bermudians.“We thought it would be good if one of us would have a chance and we both got it and found out a year-and-a-half ago. It’s kind of changed our lives,” she said.The duo left Fort Lauderdale, Florida and sailed to Bermuda to take up their new post. Since their arrival in March, they have immersed themselves in the local culture.Living off their boat in the East End, the artists have made friends with everyone from garbage collectors to St George’s Mayor Kenny Bascome.Mr Lombard, 61, said: “It’s been incredible from an artistic perspective because we have really been able to get into the community and meet people.“A lot of times when you are travelling, especially by boat, you don’t get to meet many people in the community, but since we were here for quite a few months it has allowed us to go and get coffee [and do regular things] at the same time as everyone else.”The pair imagined they would have time to rent scooters and sightsee around the Island, but their days have mostly been filled with work, Ms Paixao said.“Being an artist isn’t easy stuff, but each day we are challenged in new ways,” she said. “So if this is what hard work is I’m up for that.”Everyone from female archeologists to masculine sailors have come to her studio. Some spend hours sitting on the floor constructing their own jewellery made from sea glass found at sites like Alexandra Battery, Jew’s Bay and Fort St Catherine.Ms Paixao then has to turn it into something functional — engineering the piece, putting holes in the glass and adding final touches to the design. Each piece can take a day-and-a-half to complete, she explained.“I can’t tell you how many people come in and say ‘I am not creative, this is not something I can do’ but I always say choose something that really speaks to you and start there.”When not filming his documentary, Mr Lombard taught classes as part of the Bermuda International Film Festival, at Chewstick and Warwick Academy.He has been in the filmmaking field for four decades; at one point even touring through Egypt with iconic broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite. He is most well known for his fashion cinematography and has worked for companies like Victoria’s Secret, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.He ran a similar teaching programme in the US, helping wounded marines and soldiers learn about filmmaking as part of their healing therapy.“[Filmmaking] is very therapeutic because what we are dealing with are men, some of whom have post traumatic stress disorder, and when you engage the creative part of the mind it helps them heal.“What people don’t realise is visual storytelling predates language and our education system. Cave men would draw in the cave to show what they did that day.”He said there was an important part of Bermuda’s history that could be explained through the sea glass tradition. In fact, some of the glass found in the Island’s harbours date back to the 1600s and 1700s.If she could teach locals anything, Ms Paixao said her aim would be to tell them about wealth of natural resources that lie beneath the ocean’s surface.“A lot of people have said to us Bermudians don’t realise what they have and I will tell you it’s an unbelievable treasure here. We would love to inspire Bermudians to become passionate about what’s in their front, back and side yard in the water.”The venture has also solidified the couple’s bond. Ms Paixao said: “We are totally partners in everything. I think it’s incredible that I get to be a jewellery designer and Kevin, as a filmmaker, we are on this artistic journey together.”She said living and working on the Island has opened her mind “in ways I never thought”. “There aren’t enough hours in the day to be creative in Bermuda, it’s the most inspiring place anywhere.”She told The Royal Gazette this has been their “dream”.“I don’t think we will go back to what we did before. This is what we want to do for the rest of our lives.“It was a gamble to cut the dock lines and leave everything, but one thing I wanted to say in the documentary that I didn’t is ‘this whole experience is really a love story’.“It isn’t just doing art or whatever, it’s a complete emersion and being able to live a dream.”Ms Paixao will be working in the Rick Faries Gallery at Masterworks from now until the exhibit closes on July 25. Call Masterworks on 236-2950 to see the artist in action or to assist her in creating a piece.To order a copy of Mr Lombard’s documentary ‘Entry at Sea’ or to read the couple’s blog, visit www.coastaldailypacket.com.