my idea for a 3d environment was a coridor in an egyptian tomb which I had some major challanges trying to save and texture so here are two screen shots of the environment that was worked on in a render view from Maya. 

Idearly it would have been better with fire on the torches and more elements to the scene such as sand or skulls and Hyroglyphs on the walls but from these two angles you can see the basic idea.

Here is a possible CGI background download which I like alot. to be used as a sky of an environment.

Sandstone texture for possible walls in an egyptian tunnel

UV mapping in photoshop reference and layed out ready to be added to the structure. I understand now more about UV mapping. I didnt at first. but Im stating to get it.

Image of making the corner corridor whare the main environment will take place. I qiute like the idea of the space feeling claustophobic etc.... I will aim for this...

Adding the sand stone texture and it not going completely to plan... will need to try again from another perspective...

The corridor from another angle... making the decisions to add torches just like the sketch of the interior (see sketch book)

playing with an idea to build the corridor inside of a pyramid so that the camera can enter from outside

Pulled back camera view of my overall desert environment before texture... Im not sure if this works but I may go with this idea or alternatively just have the corridor on its own with glowing fire torches.