A 15-year-old Bermudian student has taken a passion for art and design and turned it into a business, offering unique custom notebooks in time for the new school semester.

Nico Bean, whose Flow by Nico products are available now at the Stationery Store, said the venture came out of a school project.

“Last year, I had the opportunity to create a project on whatever I liked, and I chose my business because I’m passionate about it,” he said.

“I decided to take my own paintings, scan them, print them and create custom products.”

Nico spent two years working on acrylic pour techniques to create unique paintings and handcrafted items, and used those skills to create his colourful line of notebooks.

“It is important for myself and also others to have stationery that reflects their personal style,” he said. “No one wants to open up a boring, blank white notebook.

“You want to open up something special and unique like these. You want to open up something that makes you feel good to write in.”

Janee Pitt, customer experience manager at the Stationery Store, expressed her enthusiasm about partnering with Flow by Nico to put his notepads on the store shelf.

“We are thrilled to have Nico’s notebooks in our stores,” Ms Pitt said. “We’ve watched him grow his business over the past couple of years.

“It wasn’t too long ago that he was a kid frequenting our store for Posca markers, and now he’s selling his own products here.

“His notebooks are perfect for students and anyone looking for something unique and personal.”

Flow by Nico products are available now both in-store and on the Stationery Store website.

• For more information about the collection or to explore more of Nico’s work, visitstationerystore.bm or flowbynico.com