I wrote this some time ago but can't think why I never posted it....?
Maybe my, er....erm,.....memory is going. Anyway, it's a lengthy, but simple and concise tutorial about lighting a scene and creating and applying materials used within it.
Although based upon the mentalRay renderer the techniques used can be adapted to suit any renderer.....with a little imagination.
I hope it's useful in some way.
Tutorial 6. Mental Ray Lighting and Materials.
Regards.