Faitmaitz x Glencairn
Pierre Vennen
We’re raising a glass to 25 years of the Glencairn Glass, and to celebrate we’ve teamed up with the incredible Pierre Vennen. His bold, vibrant style and unstoppable energy bring colour and joy wherever he goes. From live art at whisky tastings to splashes of brilliance in distilleries and online, Pierre’s work breaks the mould – and we couldn’t be more excited to share it.
Your work is full of bold colour and fun - where does that energy come from day to day? Are there places, people, or even little rituals that fuel your creativity?
The spark comes from people, places, and a bit of madness.
I get my energy from being around people, late-night BBQs, whisky tastings in the man cave, music blasting, stories flying. It all ends up on the canvas loud, messy, alive. Instagram once called it violent; I call it life. And then, funny enough, I disappear into the mountains. Total silence. Big skies. That’s the other side of me. Between the noise and the silence, that’s where the colour lives.
You’ve collaborated with some incredible distilleries and makers. For anyone discovering your work for the first time, what do you love bringing to the (barrel-shaped) table? And if you could team up with any dream brand, who would it be?
What I love bringing to the barrel-shaped table is energy, curiosity, and a sense of fun. I connect the dots. That’s what I say when people compliment my work, I’m just connecting stories. I love bringing people and brands together and turning the unexpected into something alive. I don’t want to make art just to decorate. I want it to speak. Sometimes that means splashing whisky onto a canvas, mixing it with paint, or drying it with a blowtorch after painting it with a steak. Even the wildest ideas are always rooted in the story, so every piece becomes a one-off experience.
As for a dream collaboration, I’d love to team up with more artists and with brands that are ready to think differently and embrace the journey with me. I’ve started building a collective called Stir Your Soul, whisky, art, music, engraving, all live, all sensory. I want to give people more than liquid gold in a glass; I want to give them something they feel. And honestly, seeing clients and friends light up when they receive a painting, that’s already a dream come true
It’s clear you’re passionate about your craft but has whisky always been part of your creative journey, or did it sneak its way in somewhere along the line?
Whisky actually snuck into my journey when I was living in Aberdeen. Like most people, I started buying bottles in supermarkets, but just like with wine (yes my first journey started in France!), I quickly realised there was so much more than a label on the shelf. I wanted to meet the people behind it, learn the traditions, and understand the passion, patience, and audacity it takes to create a dram.
That really started when I met one of my best friend Nick Sullivan from the Aberdeen Whisky Shop, my true master in single malts and the one who introduced me to cask strength single casks. I’ll never forget the day I fell in love with my favourite whisky so far: a Cù Bòcan 1990. The beast got me right there in his shop! Today Nick and I work closely together, sharing our journey and bringing more people to the table. Being part of such an incredible community is an amazing feeling.
The classic question: what’s been your most memorable whisky moment so far? Is there one dram that instantly takes you back to a special time or place?
There have been so many other special moments too: painting in Campbeltown on my birthday, sipping Kilkerran whisky new make; live sessions at festivals; laser collaborations with my friend Ross. And the most recent highlight was in Lyon, where I was born. We painted live with Lauryne for 12 hours at Turntable Spirits’ launch, involving everyone. That canvas speaks louder than words.
Honestly, every project is alive for me, each one leaves a mark. But that first Cù Bòcan moment? That’s the one that lit the fuse.
Find out more about Pierre’s work at:
www.faitmaiz.com
LIVE ART
ARTWORK
BARREL ART
