Artwork
Clara Button and the Magical Hat Day
Clara Button and the Magical Hat Day is a drawing by Emily Sutton. It dates from 2011 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The drawing serves as a preparatory study for the title page of the children’s book *Clara Button and the Magical Hat Day*. Intended to guide the final illustration, it outlines the composition that will later depict the protagonist amidst hat boxes within the Victoria and Albert Museum setting. The work dates from the book’s production period leading up to its 2011 publication.
Subject & Meaning
The sketch captures Clara Button, the story’s young heroine, positioned between stacked hat boxes and a solitary hat, hinting at the narrative’s focus on discovery and imagination within a museum environment. By arranging these elements, the artist foreshadows the playful interaction between the character and the museum’s collections.
Technique & Style
Executed in line drawing, the study emphasizes clear contours and spatial relationships, allowing the illustrator to experiment with figure placement and object scale. The approach reflects Emily Sutton’s broader practice, which draws on early‑20th‑century illustration and folk‑art traditions, favoring straightforward, narrative‑driven imagery suited to a young audience.
History & Provenance
Created by Emily Sutton, a Yorkshire‑born illustrator who earned a BA (Hons.) in Illustration from Edinburgh College of Art in 2008, the drawing was produced during the development of the book’s visual identity. The final title page, derived from this study, appeared in the 2011 edition published by Amy de la Hayes, featuring the V&A as its story locale.
Artist & collection
Artist
Emily Sutton is an English illustrator. She is known for her illustrations in children's picture books inspired by vintage artwork and old objects.
