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.
WITH A wide smile plastered across his face, this little gecko is ready for his close up .
A pair of adorable polar bear cubs play-fight with each other in the Alaskan snow .
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 .
SHOVELLING food into his mouth, this hungry gorilla enjoys a peaceful moment at dinner time .
AN ADORABLE one-eyed kitten has been dubbed the 'pirate cat' because of his pirate-like facial expressions .
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 .
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
A Birmingham man inspired by sci-fi film Wall-E, has created a one- wheeled vehicle, controlled by signals from his BRAIN .
A mischievous fox cub demonstrates his playful side by biting his sibling’s tail .
IT'S the iconic TV show that influenced a whole generation in the 1990s .