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.
SURROUNDED by a snowstorm, these young polar bears battle the elements - as well as each other .
THROWING himself off 1,100ft bridges in a wheelchair, this is the PARALYSED base jumper who knows no fear .
What lies beneath this building site? Britain's great hope of winning the pre-WW2 arms race against Nazi Germany .
ROLLING around in the snow, these young brown bears take a break from their play fight to share a tender hug with one another .
LUMINOUS green rocks could easily be a beach from Superman's homeland of Krypton .
THIS may look like a dolphin through jumping hoops, but it is in fact nothing more than a clever 3D pencil drawing .
A brave leopard kicks back and relaxes in the sunshine - just inches from an enormous crocodile .
CAMPED out in the middle of a forest, these unusual hut hotels take you back to basics .
AN American accountant has grown the world's biggest MELON and smashed his way into the record books with his mammoth 350 .
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 .
An osprey soars through the air at 30 miles per hour before swooping down to catch its prey from a lake .
Enjoying life’s little pleasures is something that many struggle to do .