Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Marilyn studied at the University of Manitoba (B.A., B.Ed.) and The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (B.FA) in Halifax (photography and printmaking). In 2000 she retired from her high school art teaching position, and moved to the lake at Gimli, Manitoba with her artist husband, Robert Coulter.
Marilyn paints in acrylic and oil, but is also a very accomplished Sculpture artist. The work tends to be narrative and open to interpretation. In what seems to be a recurring theme of innocence and experience, the approach is intuitive, with ideas and focus shifting as the work evolves; the mood of these works is often dark, and sometimes fanciful and humourous. Marilyn has been exhibiting work in Solo and Group shows since 1995.