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.
POWERFUL bolts of lightning illuminate the night sky in an incredible autumn storm over the Sardinian coastline .
A group of otters put on a show of aqua aerobics, as they raise their flippers perfectly in sync .
A tiny puppy who lost his front legs after being hit by a train has been given and new LEASH of life with a set of wheels .
WITH STUNNING colours and serene scenes, these photographs capture the otherworldly beauty of the English coast .
A BABY-faced burglar is starting a seven year stretch in custody after being nabbed by a Jaffa Cake .
Struggling home entertainment chain Blockbuster has been slammed for advertising its workers' jobs while they are still in them in order to scare them into working harder .
An artist has transformed traditional Thanksgiving dinners into mini-masterpieces .
TENNIS was a game made for three according to the first Victorian rule book .
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
THIS BIGFOOT 'Jesus bird' may look silly, but he's perfectly designed for walking on water .
LYING flat out on his back, this little meerkat makes the most of the English sunshine .
While often referred to as the kings of the jungle, gorillas - for all their might - are notorious hydrophobes .