A Chester artist and illustrator has recreated her Rows Christmas Window Trail artwork in miniature at the popular Chester in Lego exhibition at Chester Market. Nikki Pinder has been busy producing a range of eye-catching window art at a number of shops on the Rows in the city centre.

Her colourful festive designs adorn the windows of 10 businesses on the Rows as part of a new Christmas trail, funded through the Heritage Action Zone. Now Nikki has recreated some of her designs in miniature on the tiny windows of Lego versions of some of the Chester shops featured.

These tiny Chester shops can be found at the Chester in Lego display which is housed within the new market. Nikki has decorated a number of the other Chester in Lego buildings, resulting in a miniature windows trail which can be done from within the market.

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And visitors coming to the market to see this Chester in Lego display are able to donate to a good cause at the same time. A tap and pay card terminal located next to the display collects donations which are split between three charities working with people who are homeless – Soul Kitchen, SHARE and Chester Aid to the Homeless.

The Chester in Lego exhibition is a labour of love for Chester blogger S**tChester, who has reproduced a range of iconic Chester buildings in the display, along with a whole host of familiar faces in the city such as town crier David Mitchell. The display includes Chester landmarks the Eastgate Clock and the walls, along with newer additions to the city such as Storyhouse.

Commenting on Nikki’s work, Tony Chester from S**tChester said: “It was great to collaborate with Nikki on this project. I’m really impressed with the detail on the art she’s produced at such a small scale and all the designs add extra interest to the models in the market.

“I’m hoping people will come and visit and follow the trail in the same way that people are following the window trail on the rows. Remember that visitors to the Lego display can make a donation to help end homelessness in Chester via a card payment terminal.”

Tony has even included a Lego version of Nikki Pinder next to one of her designs.

Commenting on the project and its expansion into the world of Chester in Lego, Jen McAndrew, who is managing the project on behalf of Marketing Cheshire and Heritage Action Zone, said: “I absolutely love the indie community in Chester. We’re an ever-growing network of artists, marketing experts and event organisers (to name just a few skills) who are seriously contributing to the beautiful tapestry of activities we get to enjoy in our city.

“We’re all about supporting each other and doing our best for the city. We’re always thinking of ways to do things differently and make the city we love even better. I feel privileged to work on projects like this.”

Nikki told CheshireLive she was thrilled to be involved in creating artwork both for the businesses on the Rows and the miniature Chester shops at Chester in Lego.

She said: “Jen and S**tChester and I met up in the market and Tony was talking about the Lego and I think we all just said why don’t we do a miniature trail. Tony took the windows out and I was able to work on them between projects as I travel around the country.

“There are three from the actual Rows trail and some new ones. It’s really sweet. I love how the Chester in Lego display has grown over the years.

“It’s great that the Chester in Lego display is raising money for charity too.”

The businesses taking part in the Rows Christmas Window Trail are the ArtHouse Café, Chester Health Store, Chester Model Centre, Pars Kahve, Julie Colclough Gallery, Flower Cup, Little Niki’s Tearoom, Pictura, Nichols & Co and Brow HQ.

As well as the Rows Christmas window trail, Nikki has created two bonus windows at Rainbow Tearooms by Chester Pride and Death by Tacos.

Visitors to Chester can pick up a Chester Rows trail sheet from the Visitor Information Centre on Town Hall Square. Those who complete the trail and find the hidden items are in with a chance of winning a £50 Chester Gift Card.

Anyone taking part and posting on social media is encouraged to use the hashtag #ChesterRowsTrail.

Nikki is also working on a fundraising project for the same three homeless charities where she will be located at different Chester businesses in December, offering to draw people’s pet dogs in return for a donation to charity.

And Jen McAndrew said a further Rows initiative happening over the festive season would be pop-up choirs, which was a big success last year. Different choirs will be performing on the Rows every weekend in the lead up to Christmas, beginning on Saturday (November 25).

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