IT’S BEGINNING to look a lot like Christmas – well, it is at a Wokingham town centre estate agency.
David Cliff welcomed back Tom Baker, no not that one, on Thursday so he could decorate the Peach Street branch’s windows with a festive scene. It is painstakingly etched in freehand by the talented artist, who uses nothing but a scraper, fake snow and his trousers to create the winter wonderlands.
Each is photorealistic and, by careful appliance of the snow and tweaking the shapes, he creates landscapes that have depth and range.
His window for David Cliff features reindeers and polar bears as well as festive firs and snow-drenched log cabins.
This is the fifth year that the Snow Windows have been painted onto the David Cliff branch, and it is fast becoming a festive tradition for the town.
And Tom’s work is so admired that other small businesses across the borough are among his customers.
The 40-year-old has been dabbling with the art for 12 years, but it only really took off five years ago.
He said: “I just posted on a Facebook page, asking if anyone was interested, and it snowballed from there.
“I enjoy doing it, it means I meet different people.”
Tom’s windows have included works for restaurants and an Audi showroom, but he thinks the David Cliff windows are the biggest project he tackles.
“I get great satisfaction from it,” he said.
And David Cliff, who runs the estate agency, was thrilled to be welcoming him back.
“Our festivities start when we see Tom, simple as that,” he said.
“He returns each year, he’s incredible and fascinating to watch. The windows attract so much attention.
“He is one of life’s lovely, lovely people.”
The windows are now on display until the New Year.
For more on Tom’s work, log on to www.snowwindows.com
