Sutton was educated at Dursley Grammar School.
He published his first book in 1974 and had his first success with The Diary of a Cotswold Parson (1978) by Francis Edward Witts (1783–1854).
[1] This covers the years 1783–1854 and was edited and introduced by David Verey.
Sutton created the British Isles in Old Photographs series and its successor, the Images of England series.
Sutton was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2010.