This still life features our wedgewood dinner set laid out for a Christmas tea. I began by painting each element of crockery then cut slices of our Christmas cake and once I had painted them, my wife made some cup cakes and mini mince pies to add to the cake stand. Painter's treats. Painting in this realistic style is a matter of closely observing the shapes, colours and gradations in the shadows and recreating them in paint. This picture only comes out to decorate the house at Christmas time. I cannot remember for sure but I think it is acrylic on canvas, although it could be oil.