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.
DASHING through the snow, this little stoat is on the lookout for a Christmas feast .
A SERENE turquoise glow glimmers from underneath these powerful icebergs .
An adorable black bear cub struggles to find the perfect spot for an afternoon nap as he wriggles around on the branch of a maple tree .
From vivid greens to glowing pinks, the colours of the aurora borealis fill the night sky above a snow covered Lapland .
TOMORROW (Saturday) marks the 28th anniversary of the nuclear disaster that left the city of Chernobyl devastated .
A BRITISH couple are the first to tie the knot inside an enormous GLACIER in Iceland .
A brave praying mantis makes an unusual friend in an Oriental garden lizard .
A cricket perches on an unusual seat after crawling up the snout of a crocodile .
THIS LITTLE squirrel tries to keep himself snug as snow starts to fall around him .
GLIDING through the water, these delightful frogs show off their vibrant colours as they practice their FROG crawl .
It's incredible to think anyone could live in such horrendous squalor - yet two men have been prosecuted for keeping their homes in such revolting conditions that it was no longer fit for their animals .