FROM MRS Patmore to Lady Sybil, these barking mad illustrations show the WOOF-er side of some of our most loved Downton characters. The art works entitled 'Houndton Tabby', were designed by illustrator and artist Kim Parkhurst, 39, after she combined her love of drawing and Downton Abbey. 'I've been painting portraits of animals in historical costume for some time,” explains New Yorker Kim. “I've taken some familiar and beloved characters whose demeanour, personality, and appearance seemed to translate to certain breeds of dog or cat. 'I got to thinking about Mr Bates' character and storyline, and Brendan Coyle's facial structure, and how he could look hard but also had the warmest, kindest eyes.
Enjoying life’s little pleasures is something that many struggle to do .
COURAGEOUS climbers descend 400 metres as they manoeuvre their way through thick walls of ice .
Armed with a snorkel, flippers and her skimpy bikini, an intrepid female free diver swims alongside an array of reef sharks .
BLOWING bubbles underwater, this adorable polar bear slides into his tank for a playful dip .
SEA LIFE and greenery in one shot show nature at its very best .
A mining town in Australia’s outback appears to be completely deserted, but its residents have escaped the scorching heat by living in underground caves .
This is the moment a nimble red fox and a lumbering Alaskan brown bear were locked in a tense stand-off .
A US firefighter has battled osteoarthritis and four hip replacements to break the world paddleboarding record .
A cheeky chipmunk offers some of his spare food, before deciding against the idea and shoving the extra peanut into his already crammed mouth .
Surveying its surroundings, a tiny harvest mouse climbs the stem of a dandelion .
NEVER mind being careful not to choke on your food, this mother bird has a bigger challenge on her hands, as her ravenous offspring impatiently launches its head down into her stomach .
HUNDREDS of colour coordinated yarns lie abandoned in this once thriving textile mill .