Beth Sutton (she/they) is an anthropologist, artist and NHS healthcare professional based at the University of Sussex, specialising in neurodivergence and neurodevelopmental conditions. Beth is an experienced qualitative researcher working in an interdisciplinary way, treading new and exciting ground where anthropology meets the arts. She has authored and co-authored several publications on these topics (see the ‘Publications’ tab).

In 2021, Beth was awarded a fully-funded student-led studentship, at first attempt, by the Southeast Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS). She is now in the latter stages of this research project. The study involves a core group of NHS service users; adults who, like Beth, received late neurodevelopmental diagnoses. It is both autoethnographic and ethnographic. Beth has completed in-depth ethnographic fieldwork with neurodivergent adults in East and West Sussex (2024–2026), taking a multidimensional approach, combining online and offline spaces with sensory, participatory and creative methods.

Beth’s PhD aims to provide a more holistic examination of late neurodevelopmental diagnoses in adulthood from a neurodivergent point-of-view, but it also seeks to deepen this awareness in terms of overlapping neurodevelopmental and brain-body conditions. Despite being in the writing phase, Beth has just finished a Sussex-based tour where she took a large-scale installation to several events, including a stop at the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne (2026). The installation was co-produced at Fabrica, where Beth had a week-long artist residency in 2025. Click here to find out more.

Beth is a first-generation multiply neurodivergent scholar.

Get in touch about consultancy opportunities, academic posts, post-doctoral research, artist residencies, workshop and/or training facilitation, or other collaborations, on LinkedIn by clicking here. This is also where you’ll find updates about forthcoming events and presentations.

Sussex Awards Winner 2025 – Inclusive Education

Click here for Beth’s recent NHS blog post (2025), highlighting the ways that anthropology and art can optimise meaningful participation. Click here to read Beth’s interview with Autistica (2024), noting outstanding contributions to anthropology and neurodevelopmental care. Reference to Beth’s design in SAGE’s first publication of ‘Neurodiversity’ can be found here. In terms of other creative work, a selection of co-produced artwork was exhibited in Arts C333 (2024) as part of ‘Outside the Frame’ – a project championing the work of marginalised researchers. Beth was asked to contribute an original illustration for a recently published text by Carol Hendrickson titled “Why Draw?: Drawing Ethnographic Fieldnotes” (2025).

Presentations

2026

'Neurodivergent-led ethnography: weaving together lived experience and widening participation opportunities' 01/07/26 - Sussex Clinical Academic Conference [Sign up here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/brightonandsussexhealthresearchpartnership/2108887] 

'Navigating burnout at university in the context of neurodivergence' as part of 'Studying effectively and staying well for neurodivergent students', an event hosted by the Global Studies Neurodivergent Working Group (co-designed, co-delivered) – University of Sussex

'Anthropology, art and the potential for meaningful public engagement' – Brighton and Sussex Medical School 

‘Weaving the neurodivergent brain-body together’ – The Festival of Ideas, University of Sussex AND at the Towner Gallery, Eastbourne

'Launching the 'Autism workbook': a new tool in the box' – Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

2025

‘NHS Staff Networks: the value of lived experience and an anthropological approach’ – Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

‘Situating LGBTQIA+ history in the UK: Mental health, terminology and symbolism’ (presented twice) – Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

2024

‘The value of lived experience in promoting wellbeing for neurodivergent service users and staff’ – The Royal College of Psychiatrists
‘Understanding autistic and ADHD young people’ – Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
‘Allyship beyond lanyards’ (interactive training, developed and presented twice) – Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

2023 

‘Understanding burnout in the context of neurodivergence’ – University of Sussex
‘Situating anthropology and neuro/heteronormativity within neurodevelopmental care’ – Brighton and Sussex Medical School

2022 

“I like you being here”: to understand and be understood through illustration – Autism Community Research Network, University of Sussex