From Mrs Patmore to Lady Sybil, all Downton's characters have been immortalised in works by New York artist Kim Parkhurst. The collection entitled 'Houndton Tabby', were designed after the 39-year-old combined her love of drawing and the hit ITV show. She said: 'By the time season three of Downton aired, me and my husband were hooked, so it was relativity easy to pick out characters.' ...read
Art big picture gallery
These beautiful pictures were submitted to this year's Landscape Photographer of the Year awards.
Art Headlines
Artist who created raunchy painting of pregnant Kate Middleton to be hanged... or at least his pictures are at the National Portrait Gallery
Nick Lord, whose previous work includes this imagined painting of the Duchess of Cambridge in a leopard print bra, has been crowned the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year. Mr Lord won with an oil painting of Iraq war veteran Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, who won the Victoria Cross in 2005 after saving fellow soldiers from two ambushes. ...read
The fantasty boxroom: Artist creates incredible scenes from fairytales, dreams and stories using props in one tiny room
Korean Jee Young Lee’s Stage of Mind sees her construct scenes for her camera rather than employing the traditional method of taking photos. Her stage for these fictional scenes, which she says convey her psychological state, is her room-sized studio in Seoul, measuring just 360 x 410 x 240 centimetres. ...read
MUST READS...Art stories from around the world
Anyone got a shovel? Pygmy owl gets stuck in the snow after diving to hunt its prey
As part of the smallest species in Europe the owl, which measured about 7in from tip to tail, used its lightning-speed reactions to catch a vole hidden in the deep bank in Oulo, Finland - emerging with the creature after just 15 seconds. Photographer Jari Peltomaki, 48, captured the scene by putting up hundreds of nesting boxes in the forest and waiting until owls arrived.
LATEST ALBUM RELEASES
Scroll through for the latest new album releases
Foreverly (Reprise)
The presence of Green Days Billie Joe Armstrong alongside Norah Jones on this homage to the Everly Brothers is a surprise. Backed by Nashville players, the duo combine well. Its a touch indulgent at times, but they playfully evoke the spirit of Don and Phil on sad, sweet country ballads and electrified workouts like Long Time Gone.
★★★✩✩
Live At The Cellar Door (Reprise)
Recorded in Washington at the time of Youngs celebrated 1970 album After The Gold Rush, this acoustic set captures performances of rare intimacy. Only Love Can Break Your Heart and a piano-accompanied Birds are highlights, and there is an early version of Old Man, released two years later on Harvest.
★★★★✩
Still Within The Sound Of My Voice (Entertainment One)
The writer of Wichita Lineman is joined by Carly Simon and Brian Wilson, and a few Brits on this second duets album. Joe Cocker is gruff and soulful on The Moons A Harsh Mistress; Kris Kristofferson simply gruff on Honey Come Back. Rumer shines on the title track.
★★★✩✩
Back To Brooklyn (Columbia CD & DVD)
A love letter to the people and places that shaped her, this lengthy live album sees Streisand return in triumph to her hometown. Signature hits People, The Way We Were and Evergreen are all here, with elegant trumpeter Chris Botti and a lavish orchestra adding colour aplenty. Barbra, 71, re-writes Cole Porters Youre The Top to namecheck fellow local Jay-Z and the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team. You can take the girl out of Brooklyn...
****
Freedom (RCA)
With new releases from Leona Lewis, JLS and Olly Murs, X Factor alumni are swamping the seasonal schedules. But former legal secretary Ferguson (runner-up in 2010) continues to stand out, forsaking the usual warbling for a more distinctive approach. Her touchstones Aretha, Adele and Nina Simone are still evident. I Hope leans on the rhythmic thump of Adeles Rolling In The Deep, while John Legend adds class to ballad Bridges.
***
From The Sea To The Land Beyond (Rough Trade)
Brighton indie-rockers BSP have established a loyal cult-following over the past decade by jumping from swaggering guitars to moodier, cinematic styles. This soundtrack to a BBC film on the British coastline finds them in the latter mode. It lacks their usual power, but adds subtlety, plus hints of Pink Floyd, on evocative, primarily instrumental pieces punctuated by the sounds of lapping waves.
***
Cello Concertos (Hyperion CDA67917)
This is the first time our foremost cellist Steven Isserlis has recorded Dvoraks B minor Concerto. Having heard him play it in concert, I can attest that the CD represents his heartfelt interpretation very well, and the Italian-made recording has plenty of presence.
****
Salute (Syco))
'If you think were just pretty things, you couldn't be more wrong,' brag Tulisa's 'little muffins on their second album. Leaning on the know-how of girl-band veterans Nicola Roberts (Girls Aloud) and Shaznay Lewis (All Saints), the X Factor graduates are maturing rather nicely. The title track could do with a stronger tune, but the jittery pop of Nothing Feels Like You is infectious.
★★★✩✩
The Day In Pictures
The best pictures from around the world today
REVIEWS
IN BOOKS TODAY
- Ho, ho, ho! From Mac's rib-tickling cartoons to a collection of the wittest quotes ever: ROGER LEWIS selects the books to make you laugh your Christmas socks off
- Sing with a Beatle, chill with a vampire... give children a cracking read this Christmas: SALLY MORRIS selects books for every age
- Blair's journey: From fettucine to fish 'n' chips: JOHN PRESTON gives us his view of the best of this year's history books
- It's been a year of mouth-watering cookbooks... How to be a master chef: JANE SHILLING samples the best
MUSIC REVIEWS AND FEATURES
THEATRE
- Drawing The Line: Drawing battle lines at the end of the Raj Howard Brenton has done a historical re-creation on last days of British rule in India
- Morning To Midnight: Germany's Basil Fawlty steals the show It starts as a vision of industrial hell and ends like a sinuous production of Cabaret
- Julie Madly Deeply: How can you not smile at joyous Julie? Luxuriate in Julie Andrewss songs and her general Mary Poppins-ness
- Gastronauts: This journey of senses and taste leaves plenty to chew on Teases Roman Catholic convent education in Fifties London
- Once A Catholic: Forgive me Father, for I did not laugh a lot Teases Roman Catholic convent education in Fifties London
- The Magic Flute: ENO weave their magic on Mozart Part pantomime, part solemn allegory, Mozarts last stage masterpiece poses many problems