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.
Sprawled out on top of a log, this sleeping leopard takes a relaxing break from his daily routine .
GLIDING through the water, these delightful frogs show off their vibrant colours as they practice their FROG crawl .
ARMED with her camera, bikini and flippers, this brave diver goes swimming with SHARKS .
BALANCING on top of a tree, this bear cub puts her climbing skills to the test .
CLINGING onto nothing but ice, this brave climber reaches heights of 1000 FEET as he scales frozen solid waterfalls .
A rare manuscript of one of Charlotte Bronte’s earliest poems went under the hammer today and fetched nearly £100,000 – double what it was expected to get .
A grey whale and her calf greet an audience of awestruck admirers on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico .
SWIMMING slowly towards the shore, a small group of bottlenose dolphins arrive for breakfast at a beach in Western Australia .
Staring death in the face, a little field mouse bravely confronts a hungry cat .
Beautiful turquoise waves rise and fall in a series of stunning images taken along the coastline of south-eastern Australia .
SITTING quietly at the edge of the lake, these two baby bears watch and learn as the adults hunt for fish .