Rennie Pilgrem came to art after spending 20 years as a recording artist and international DJ with his own small record label. “When music became readily available digitally, sales almost completely stopped due to the ease of piracy,” he says. “So I switched to my other love which was visual art. I like the extra freedom with visual art where there is no pressure to conform (unlike dance music which is formulaic).”

He adds: “I also am drawn to the fact that the work will end-up in a physical format rather than how music is mainly now… only available digitally.”

I love the minimalism of much of Rennie’s paintings, with crisp clean lines and an appealingly uncluttered feel.

“I like the concept of conveying a lot whilst still keeping things simple,” he says. “Less is more, and all that. I like plenty of space and I like to leave plenty to the imagination.”

Rennie also relishes working in different mediums, ranging from sculpture to mono prints.

“If I spend time working digitally, after a while I yearn to do something more physical,” he explains. “I cross-fertilise the different platforms, incorporating, say, painted textures in my digital work and replicating digital ideas in painted form. I don’t want to feel like I have to explore just one narrow route.”

I ask Rennie how he selects a medium when starting a new work.

“Sounds weird, but I tend to have a pretty good rendition of a new work in my head before I start work,” he replies. “The medium I choose would be the right one for the image in my head.”

The artwork is, as Rennie puts it, very “idea based and normally imaginary rather than, say, of a real landscape. I am usually trying to convey a feeling, either through humour or emotion – often bitter-sweet. I like to do work that poses questions rather than give answers.”

These aims are achieved beautifully in Rennie’s whimsical Rowing Coach, above. Imagine coming to a halt during an early morning stroll or run, removing your earbuds and hearing the coach’s shouts! It feels like the start of a very uncommon tale.

Influences include the Surrealists, Cubists, Pop-artists, Chapman Bros, Bridget Riley “and, of course, Picasso.”

Rennie describes himself as “driven to create,” and he loves nothing better than working “a new piece of work through from being an idea to the finished article hanging on a wall.” The fact this work is then bought by a member of the public is  “incredibly satisfying. It means I can carry on doing what I enjoy and progress as an artist.”

Find more of Rennie’s work and find out about forthcoming shows at www.renniepilgrem.co.uk. Rennie’s work can also be found on the online galleries artfinder.com and quiirk.co.uk.

Are you an artist or do you know an artist who would like to be showcased on SkyLightRain.com? Get in touch at judydarley (at) iCloud.com. I’m also happy to receive reviews of books, exhibitions, theatre and film. To submit or suggest a review, please send an email to judydarley (at) iCloud.com.