Meet the founders
Creative Journey Retreats is an independently owned brand founded by us, two sisters, Zoe and Rebecca Russell-Turner.
Fueled by a shared love of travel, connection, creativity, and community, our story began twice: first as children, then again at midlife.
Travel opened our world when our family moved from suburban Nottingham to Kingston Town, Jamaica. Growing up deep in the Blue Mountains, existing between cultures taught us that the most powerful education happens outside your comfort zone. We learned that immersing yourself in unfamiliar places doesn't just broaden your horizons; it fundamentally expands who you can become.
That childhood revelation became our compass. Having traveled the world multiple times, for work and pleasure, we never lost that sense of wonder and possibility that comes from truly inhabiting a place.
“Time is your most precious commodity — stretch your time on our creativity retreat”
A hybrid of academia and entrepreneurship
As a Lecturer in MA Textiles and Fashion, Rebecca has taught at universities in the UK, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, guiding emerging designers and entrepreneurs to find their unique creative voices.
Most recently she led 'The Creative Journey' programme at the prestigious Jimmy Choo Academy in Mayfair, earning five-star reviews from the summer-course participants. There she specialised in unlocking creative confidence in people from all backgrounds, proving that creativity isn't reserved for the naturally gifted, but can be awakened in everyone.
Beyond academia, Rebecca has launched her own creative ventures: TAT, her fashion label stocked in Topshop, and Yung Club, an immersive yoga brand that debuted at Selfridges' Everybody exhibition inside a giant projection-filled Mother Ship — a testament to her belief that creativity thrives at the intersection of unexpected disciplines.
20 years as an executive global producer
For two decades Zoe has been the force behind some of the world's most ambitious brand experiences. As an executive creative producer and global event strategist, she's partnered with clients like NikeLab, Airbnb and Uber to create immersive moments.
Her work spans the globe: hanging off the Chrysler Building in New York for Nike, building full-scale Lego houses in Denmark for Airbnb, orchestrating NikeLab's multi-continent event tours, and producing at the World Economic Forum in Davos for Uber.
Every Creative Journey retreat benefits from this mastery: world-class production standards, meticulous attention to detail, and the confidence that comes from delivering excellence on the global stage.
