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.
SWIMMING next to 40 tonne whales, dare-devil divers take the plunge with these gentle giants of the sea .
A NINJA red squirrel cuts a dashing figure as the little fella jumps up to ten-feet between treetops in the Yorkshire Dales .
BALANCING on top of a tree, this bear cub puts her climbing skills to the test .
WEARING tiny Christmas accessories, these adorable babies get into the spirit of the season .
SNOWBOARDING in your £2,000 wedding dress sounds like a nightmare for most brides .
NEW DELHI, A woman activist of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party crosses a police barricade near the residence of ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi during a protest against the recent rape of a five-year-old girl in New Delhi, India, April 21, 2013 .
AN EXERCISING turtle and an ice-skating chick are hardly everyday exploits in the animal community .
THIS DANGER-mad female pensioner could be the oldest Brit to cage dive with CROCODILES .
WITH their robotic movements and pristine uniforms, these are the sexy traffic girls of North Korea that are becoming iconic figures in the secretive state .
BURSTING colours of reds, pinks and purples give the illusion of a collection of stunning flowers .