Samuel Fulton was born in Glasgow on 26 April 1855, the son of Samuel Fulton, a baker and Jane Strang. He lived at Surrey Street and attended the Free Church Normal School before entering High School. Initially he worked as an apprentice baker in his father's business before starting to paint for a living at around the age of 24.

He lived in Airdrie in 1881 and also worked from Torrance, Stirlingshire and Campsil Glen & Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire. During the late 19th century he returned to the family business but continued painting. He exhibited in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Fulton specialised in painting portraits of dogs and was adept at capturing the character and mood of the animal in his work. It is highly likely he kept dogs himself possibly West Highland Terriers as he painted the breed repeatedly throughout his life.

Examples of his paintings can be found at the Royal Scottish Academy, Glasgow Art Gallery & Museum and the Paisley Museum.