Jeff Parr                             Francais

Born in St Helens, Lancashire in 1947, my cycling passion started at the age of 11 years with Prescot Road Club with my first race at the age of 13 years. Always encouraged to draw and paint by my mother, I studied Fine Art at Wigan School of Art before moving onto Preston School of Art (now the University of Lancashire) to study Graphic Design.

After graduation, I moved to London working as a freelance fine artist, graphic designer and film animator. Work included the design and painting of specialised scenic/set paintings for the Royal Shakespeare Company (London and Stratford-on-Avon); Royal Opera House; Madame Tussauds (London and Amsterdam); the London Planetarium and the original Andrew Lloyd-Webber London production of Evita. My cycling passion continued throughout this period as a racing member of Bromley Cycling Club.

Following a move to Yorkshire Television in Leeds as a Graphic Designer, I raced with Yorkshire Road Club and then the Airedale Olympic Cycling Club where I was an active racing member for over 17 years.

In 1973, my passion was further engrained by the life-changing experience of a motoring holiday following the Tour de France. Many years of reading about the Tour exploits did not live up to the exposure of witnessing the actual event. This experience prompted visits to many Classics in Europe and further holidays based around the Tour de France together with my bike (velo) and sketchbook.

My painting skills were always in constant demand at Yorkshire Television in addition to my graphic design and animation work. During my time with YTV, I redesigned the Yorkshire Television station ident animation and won many awards and accolades for my graphic design title and promotional sequences with examples of my work featured in the publications “Computer Graphics Systems and Concepts” and “Television Graphics”.

In December 2001, I was able to realise a long-held dream to live amongst the legendary alps where the velo is king. Now, able to paint and draw full-time, the concept of Velo Art was born combining my two passions while enjoying the Tours de France and other stage races virtually on my doorstep. Velo Club Yenne can now boast international status with their first English member.