A vision of post-lockdown Chester – from artist Dai Owen

Are you having good and bad days when it comes to adjusting to the new normal in this somewhat dystopian world we are now living in? Yep, so are we. You’re not alone.

And it looks like we might be in for a longer wait before the world – and our city – return to anything like normal. But take heart and hold on, Chester.

"Will we go over to that fence now, Ted?"
"No, we might just blow up with excitement if we did that now. Lets save something for next week."#lockdown pic.twitter.com/EnJXqMDsvN

— Father Ted Quote of the Day (@FrTedQOTD) April 17, 2020

You’re doing brilliantly in playing your part in staying in and only going out for daily exercise or essential journeys. In doing so, you’re keeping everyone safe and ensuring our epic NHS staff and key workers can continue with their incredible and crucial work at this extraordinary moment in time.

Indeed, it’s been flipping brilliant to see the community coming together to support each other through these challenging times. You really are amazing.

A busy day working together to ensure that 150+ people will be supported with food during this crisis.
Tonight we delivered meals for 148 people!
Thank U Chefs Table, our anon supporter and YOU- your donations tonight provided meals for an additional 50 people so THANK YOU ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8b8E6LD0uv

— Soul Kitchen (@soul_chester) April 21, 2020

So, with a view to providing some much-needed respite from the present pandemic, we took to Twitter to ask just what our artist Dai Owen’s next surrealist art project should be.

Lovely folk of Chester & beyond, we need your help. Our artist/cartoonist Dai Owen wants you to choose his next surrealist art project. Please vote – could it be a wry look at Chester’s #lockdownlife exercises, 1st day post-lockdown revelry or some quirky new parades? 🗳

— We Are Chester (@wearechester) April 6, 2020

Post-lockdown revelry

Options included a vision of post-lockdown revelry, a wry look at our lockdown exercise regimes or a vision of potential new parades for the city.

And the winner by a long chalk was a pictorial look at what we might expect to see when our city comes back to life post-lockdown.

We love the creative twists incorporated in Dai’s drawings and this is no exception.

So grab a cuppa and enjoy future Chester, through Dai Owen’s crystal ball.

And, for now, let’s hold tight, continue to do what we can to look out for each other and look forward to a day when we can all return to regular jaunts into the city.

Whether you dream of returning to your favourite coffee shop for a cuppa and a slice of traybake or you long for a big night out with mates amidst Chester’s pubs and clubs, hold on to that thought. Here’s to a brighter future ahead for us all. In the meantime, stay safe.

For more of Dai Owen’s work, check out his websites:

http://www.dai-owen.co.uk/

http://www.directoryofillustration.com/DaiOwen

What will be the first thing on your Chester wish list, once lockdown restrictions ease? Get in touch and let us know, either via commenting here, emailing wearechester@gmail.com or via our Twitter, Facebook or Instagram channels.