Marilyn Walker studied at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax; at Sheridan College in the Craft and Design Program and at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto; and in the Fine Arts Department at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick.
As Curator of Education and Extension at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife, N.T., she taught art classes and workshops as well as organizing art exhibitions and arts events across the North. At the Atlin Centre of the Arts in the Yukon, B.C., she was an Artist-in-Residence through the Canada Council Program. Currently, she teaches outdoor education and art through the Artist in the Class programme of the Salt Spring Arts Council.
During her academic career as a university Professor in anthropology and ethnobotany at Mount Allison University, Marilyn was a part-time artist, now retired to the home and studio she built in British Columbia on Salt Spring Island; she shares it with her Blue Heeler puppy, Tuva, and transplanted Newfoundland musician Edgar Hann.
Group and solo exhibitions and arts events she has participated in include Struts Gallery, N.B.; Salt Spring Painters’ Guild; Owens Art Gallery, N.B.; CultureWorks, Mount Allison University; ArtSpring Arts Centre; and the Metchosin School of the Arts. Artwork in ceramics, oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolours and photographs are in private collections in Canada and the U.S. Her paintings are featured in a 2010 film on women artists and beauty by Colleen Furlotte.