James Strawbridge (1.97-02) has built an unusually varied career by combining his passions for sustainability, food, photography and storytelling. Based on the South Cornish coast, he now works with leading food and drink brands as a chef, food photographer, recipe developer, and content creator. Alongside writing bestselling cookery books and developing award-winning products for major retailers, he continues to champion seasonal cooking, sustainable food production and life outdoors.
After leaving Malvern College, James studied History at the University of York, where a part-time job as a chef proved just as influential as his degree. While graduating with first-class honours, he began filming the BBC series It’s Not Easy Being Green alongside his father, Dick Strawbridge. The programme followed the family’s move to Cornwall and their attempt to live more sustainably, introducing James to television presenting at the age of just 20. He went on to present a number of programmes, including The Reinventors, Saturday Farm and The Hungry Sailors, which combined his love of sailing, cooking and local food traditions.
Alongside his television career, James established himself as an author, writing 12 books on subjects ranging from self-sufficiency and vegetable cookery to barbecuing, smoking and artisan food production. He later co-founded the award-winning Posh Pasty Company before expanding into restaurant consultancy and new product development, creating products for retailers including Waitrose, Ocado and M&S. During the pandemic, he added food photography to his portfolio, drawing on artistic skills first developed at Malvern, and now photographs both his own books and commercial campaigns from his purpose-built studio overlooking the River Fowey.
Throughout his career, sustainability has remained a consistent thread. Whether growing food, promoting responsibly sourced seafood, foraging with his family or encouraging people to cook seasonally, James believes in inspiring positive change through enthusiasm rather than preaching. His work today combines creativity with education, using social media to reconnect audiences with local ingredients, traditional skills and a more sustainable way of living.
James credits Malvern College with giving him the confidence to embrace new opportunities and the curiosity to develop skills across a wide range of disciplines. An Art Scholar and enthusiastic participant in debating, sailing, rowing and school productions, he believes the College’s emphasis on extracurricular life encouraged the independence and adaptability that have defined his career. He also values the lifelong friendships forged during his time in House No. 1, describing the Malvern network as an enduring community that continues to offer support long after school.