HOUNDTON TABBY

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.

Other great stories
SEAL GETS READY FOR HIS CLOSE UP

WIDE EYED and staring straight down the lens of the camera, this intrigued seal is ready for his close up .

NO ONE CAN BELIEVE MY HUNKY BOYFRIEND USED TO BE A GIRL

A woman was left shocked after her hunky boyfriend confessed he was actually born a GIRL .

WOMAN SPENDS £20K A YEAR ON 30 PET PUGS

Meet the dog-loving woman who spends £20k a year looking after her 30 pet PUGS .

ANOREXIC DENTAL NURSE WHO SHRUNK TO UNDER FOUR STONE WINS HER NHS FIGHT FOR MORE TREATMENT

AN ANOREXIC dental nurse whose weight plummeted to less than four stone has won her NHS fight for more treatment .

BABY WITH HALF-A-HEART MAKES THIS MOTHER'S DAY EXTRA SPECIAL

A miracle baby born with half-a-heart will make this Mother's Day extra special for her mum - as she was given just 24 hours to live .

WOMAN TOO SCARED TO LEAVE HOUSE AFTER HORROR HAIR DYE REACTION

A woman who suffered from an allergic reaction to hair dye that made her face swell to twice its size has been left too scared to leave the house .

KILLED BY MAKE-UP - TRAGIC 18th CENTURY CELEB'S MIRROR AUCTIONED

She was the 18th century celebrity who made men faint in awe of her beauty by her very presence .

FORGETFUL PARENT’S LIVING TIMEKEEPER

FOR TWO memory-impaired parents their new-born baby Cian is a living timekeeper .

OSCAR PISTORIUS MURDER TRIAL

Oscar Pistorius entered a courtroom Monday for the start of his murder trial, walking past the victim's mother who says she came to court so she can ‘really look him in the eyes .

THIRD WHEEL OWL

PERCHED on a branch, this Little Owl plays third wheel to two love birds .

FISH FIGHT

FINALLY catching a meal, a pair of great white egrets fight over their dinner .

SLEEP PARALYSIS DREAMS TURNED REALITY

SITTING on a burning sofa unable to move, one man turns his terrifying dreams into reality .