[4] In 1941 Sutton was found unfit for overseas service in World War II and served as a conscript in the Home Force of the New Zealand Army who used his art skills for camouflaging activities.

[7] Two years later Sutton travelled to London on a Mural Scholarship where he studied for a time at the Anglo-French Centre in St John's Wood.

[8] He returned to New Zealand in 1949 to take up a permanent teaching position at the Canterbury University College School of Art and in 1959 was appointed senior lecturer.

A number of students of note who passed through the art school during Sutton’s tenure have commented on his influence including Pat Hanly[9] and Jonathan Mane-Wheoki.

[10] In 1963, Sutton’s Art School colleague Tom Taylor designed a house for him at 20 Templar Street in the Christchurch suburb of Richmond.

The first, “Bill” William Alexander Sutton: Retrospective 1917–1971, was curated by David Millar, Director of the Dowse Art Gallery, in 1972.

A large Sutton retrospective with a detailed catalogue was mounted by Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū in 2003.

[45] Some of the notable people represented include: 1954 Alice Candy[46] Warden of Helen Connon Hall, Christchurch 1965 Dr Roger Duff[47] Director of the Canterbury Museum 1971 Mr A. R. Low[48] Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand 1971 Rt Rev.

Allan Pyatt[49] Bishop of Christchurch 1971 John Cawte Beaglehole[50] historian and academic 1978 James Fletcher[51] businessman 1982 Sir Michael Fowler[52] Mayor of Wellington 1990 Sir Hamish Hay[53] Mayor of Christchurch Sutton also painted a number of portraits of friends and colleagues including: 1991–92 Tom Taylor[54] Head of Sculpture, University of Canterbury School of Fine Art.