I want to arrange boxes around groups of icons on the desktop.
I have tried using desktop>properties>desktop and entering a background jpg file, which is does the job for a single picture in the middle of the screen, but I need to have several background pictures, and be able to move them around on the screen.
Any ideas?

You'll probably need to install a third-party theme application. Try Google.

"So won’t you give this man his wings
What a shame
To have to beg you to see
We’re not all the same
What a shame" - Shinedown

Backgrounds can only use one picture at a time. There is no way to select multiple backgrounds and manipulate them as you wish to. None of the OS's including Mac and Linux have the ability to utilize multiple graphics.

The other option would be to create a graphic with the layout you want and use it for the background.

Richard

Thanks guys,
I've gone with Richard's suggestion and created a graphic with boxes suitably sized and spaced to match the position of my grouped icons.
It's easily done using the draw function in Excel to create filled boxes in the right position on top of one large (screensized) filled box, then PrtSc. Paste into IrfanView, crop the screen image to select just the boxes and save as a jpg which can then be used as screen background.
Thanks again
Astrikor