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.
A curious red squirrel takes a break from collecting nuts and tries her hand at photography .
DASHING through the snow, this little stoat is on the lookout for a Christmas feast .
A brave praying mantis makes an unusual friend in an Oriental garden lizard .
WITH a paw in the air and his tongue hanging from his mouth, it is clear to see that this little groundhog is struggling to wake up and leave behind the comfort of his burrow .
At least three people have been killed and more than 100 injured, some seriously, in two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon .
A little clownfish opens its mouth to reveal a blood sucking intruder living on its tongue .
These are the faces of orphans suffering from the horrifying effects of chemical warfare .
A fox takes a tumble and lands on his head when he tries to fend off a pair of eagles in Japan .
GLIDING through the water, these delightful frogs show off their vibrant colours as they practice their FROG crawl .
DIVING boffins fired harpoons into 30-foot-long whale sharks in a bid to put the sea-beasts on Google Maps .
Lying angelically with a range of expressions etched on their tiny faces, little bundles of joy are innocently captured in their first few days in these adorable photographs .
A lazy tree frog, tired of hopping along a branch, chooses the slowest form of transport when it jumps on top of an unsuspecting snail .