Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/topiary-cat-richard-saunders/

The art of topiary takes the mundane — bushes, hedges, etc., — and transforms it into complex and beautiful shapes.

A common sight on the historical grounds of British mansions and palaces, it makes their gardens and open spaces playful and alive.

While real-life topiary has certain limitations and uses tools like clippers, trimmers, and maybe a stepladder, one artist has taken inspiration from the field and recreated its playful, nature-drenched aesthetic digitally.

The series is the brainchild of 75-year-old British artist Richard Saunders, who married his passion for the surreal with his skills as a digital illustrator. For more than a decade, he has composited photos of his beloved cat Tolly into lush garden landscapes, creating “The Topiary Cat.”

The series of photos, which are shared on Facebook, Saunder’s official website and are also available as cards, commemorates Tolly, who passed away in 2016.

From there, the project has expanded to a backstory that explores the Topiary Cat’s nature as “a superior being,” who “tolerates ‘mortals’ up to a point but becomes vexated when challenged. He is particularly sensitive to abuses of nature and unkindness of any type.”

Saunders’ playful style, which comes across not only in his digital illustrations but also in his catty captions on social media, pairs well with the lovely absurdity of a giant topiary animal.

Thankfully, the project not only showcases Saunders’ love for Tolly, but also his new kitten, Georgi! Speaking to My Modern Met, Saunders explained how the project has grown.

“He [The Topiary Cat] is now accompanied by another Russian Blue called ‘Georgi’ who is now nearly four years old. His alter ego in the images is rather misbehaved and is called ‘G’ (Georgi Kitten) by his topiary mentor,” he said.

Saunders has adapted the story into a book, which he plans to release soon. He continues to post to social media and his own site, ensuring the project continues to delight its thousands of fans.

Follow the adventures at Facebook here, or watch the video below to learn more about how it all started!

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Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog