Views to display recent content with user pictures
Add a relation ship of the type content:author and use that relationship to add the user profile image. 

Hope that helps.

EDIT : A description as per the comment

1) From RELATIONSHIPS(This would be in the advanced section on the right side) click on add. it will bring up a list of fields that you can add.

2) Add the Content: Author relation ship.

3) Now When you try to add the a field additional fields would be displayed related to the user you can select  User: Picture. The relationship author should be select.