James Lockett
Before becoming a full time director of Frui, James was a painter, curator and tutor.
After completing his BA in Fine Art and an MA in Fine Art Painting, James spent a number of years teaching art and photography at various higher education colleges. Passionate about promoting the arts, James has curated a number of acclaimed exhibitions at galleries such as the Candid Arts Centre, No More Grey and Gallery 44.
The founder of Point 101 Holidays, James is also a seasoned traveller with a love of food, wine and art. One thing’s for sure, a holiday with James will be all about living the good life!
Henry Carroll
Henry is a photographer, arts writer and published author of humour books.
Possessing an MA in Photography from the Royal College of Art, Henry’s photographic work and writing has featured in countless publications including Time Out, Creative Review, Next Level, the Royal Society of Photography Magazine, The London Paper, City AM and A-N Magazine.
An experienced tutor, Henry taught photography for a number of years before becoming a director of Frui.
Like the classic English gentleman traveller, Henry insists on looking his best at all times and many a guest has marvelled at his amazing array of colourful socks!
Selwyn Leamy
Selwyn is a full time landscape painter with an MA in Fine Art from the Wimbledon School of Art. An experienced tutor and lecturer, Selwyn teaches fine art at diploma level.
He is currently undertaking a painting commission involving the veterans living at the Star and Garter Hospital in Richmond. Selwyn’s paintings are regularly exhibited and sold on the London gallery circuit. This summer he has been selected to pursue a prestigious three-month painting residency in the Italian town of Pennadomo, which is only awarded to one artist every two years. This residency will culminate in a solo exhibition in Italy this September.
Described by past guests as ‘social lubricant’, sitting down to dinner with Selwyn will mean nonstop conversation and laughing.
Mahacine Benaarous
Mahacine is Frui's head chef in Marrakech and her cooking is out of this world!
Trained at some of Marrakech's most prestigious hotels and restaurants such as Rian Monceau and Palais Char Bough, Mahacine has developed her own take on traditional North African cuisine.
With excellent English and an infectious enthusiasm for food, Mahacine will captivate you with her down to earth, hands on approach. There simply is no better person to teach you the secrets of Moroccan cooking!
Tina Hillier
Tina is an experienced picture editor and photographer. Her work has been featured in countless exhibitions, as well as publications including The Sunday Times Magazine, Observer Escape, The Guardian, Blue Print and Case da Abitare.
An experienced traveller, Tina has just returned from Argentina, where she was shooting her latest photographic documentary project, which we are looking forward to seeing exhibited soon!
Dr Mohamad Ali Torki
Dr Mohamad Ali Torki is a Syrian based archaeologist and historian.
He is the world’s leading expert on the ruins of Palmyra in Syria and has been awarded a medal from UNESCO for his research on the site.
Mohamad is a very important part of our Syrian holidays as he gives us a personal guided tour of the ruins at Palmyra. A real character, his enthusiastic, engaging manner, really helps to brings the ruins to life.
He lives in Palmyra with his wife and daughters.
Emily Stein
Emily is a professional photographer with an MA from The London College of Communication.
She has photographed for publications such as Dazed & Confused, Time Out, The Economist, The Telegraph, Vice and Peppermint Rhino. Emily has also shot advertising campaigns for The British Youth Council, FCUK, Diesel, Pizza Hut, Landor Records & Bad Company Recordings.
A littler bundle of fun and energy, Emily’s enthusiasm and passion for photography is infectious.
Ahmed El Jabri
Who better to show us around Marrakech than the Secretary General of Guides himself, Ahmed El Jabri. With a degree in English literature Ahmed will stun you with his in depth knowledge of the English language and he's also a dab hand at crosswords.
Ahmed is on hand to personally show you around the city and help you hunt out those bargains in the souk! If you need anything while in Marrakech, all you have to do is ask Ahmed, and he will see to it. Ahmed lives in Marrakech with his wife and two beautiful daughters.
Leonardo De Flavis
Leo is our Italian guide who knows everything there is to know about Abruzzo and its many customs and traditions.
Leo is fluent in both English and Italian having been born in Canada and now living in Pescara. His passion for fast cars borders on obsession and his driving style can only be described as ‘Italian’.
Ella Mccartney
After gaining a degree in both Art History and Fine Art at Goldsmiths, Ella now attends the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts, studying Fine Art at postgraduate level.
Working with a wide range of media, from sculpture, painting, photography and print, Ella makes work that is exhibited in the UK and internationally.
You can see images of Ella's really cool ice sculptures (no pun intended) on our blog.
Professor Korado Korlevic
Professor Korado Korlevic is a Croatian astronomer and one of the founders of ‘Space Guard’, an astronomical organisation committed to discovering asteroids, which are on a collision course with Earth. We are honoured that Korado gives us a tour of his observatory during our holidays in Istria, Croatia.
Korado has been awarded many prizes for his research and is an honorary member of the Associazzione Friulana di Astronomia e Meteorologia, Astrofili Forlivesi (J.Hevelius) and AD Infinitum based in Zagreb.
His free time is dedicated to the construction of astronomical instruments, meteor observations, micrometeorite analysis, optimization of asteroid and comet astrometry and their observations, giving workshops on methods of creative thinking, entomology excursions, a spot of painting and his family.
Tim Roberts
Tim has an MA in Fine Art Painting from the Royal College of Art and currently works as a figurative painter, sculpture and photographer based in London.
His work is held in some of the UK's most prestigious collections and he exhibits both nationally and internationally.
Tim is also a fine art lecturer at various London art colleges
Katie Abbott
Katie teaches on our Inspiration Retreat and is a Cognitive Hypnotherapist and coach working from Harley Street’s Lewis Clinic. She has written about personal enhancement for The Guardian and The Observer, and is a regularly contributor to Psychologies Magazine.
Having trained all over the world, Katie utilises the latest approaches developed by some of the leading figures in the positive psychology field and offers personal guidance tailored to the specific needs of individual clients.
With her sensitive, intuitive, manner and ability to listen, Katie creates the right environment for changes to happen in the most inspiring and positive way.
