Returning to Kathmandu after completing his studies, Shashi Shah worked at Tribhuvan University from 1968 to 1994, ten years of which was at the Fine Arts Campus (1979 to 1989) as its principal. He was awarded first position in the National Arts Exhibition organized by National Association of Fine Arts in 1970 and the Indra Rajya Laxmi Award by the Royal Nepal Academy in 1979. He has been nominated a member of the Royal Nepal Academy and served the National Association of Fine Arts in an exeutive position. Shashi Shah was born in 1940 to Chuda Bikram Shah and Ishwori Shah. He feels that he as head of the Tribhuvan University's department of art and sculpture, and is now heading Nepal's first private arts campus.

Using mainly the form of the horse as a medium to express his feelings, Shashi Shah works with sculpture and paintings in oil, acrylic, and mixed media. He explains that he used to work with other forms and styles and later chose horses as his main subjects because he was attracted to their swiftness, character, and sensitivity. He explains that horse have been used by human beings since pre-historic times for entertainment, transportation, and wars. They are intelligent, kind, and many of them enrich and stimulate their owners emotionally.

He points out that according to eastern Hindu scriptures, the horse is a highly respected animal and that Kalki, the last incarnation of Lord Vishnu, will take on the form of a horse to liberate all souls. His works depict Eastern philosophy presented through a Western art approach. His art theme includes liberty [note that his horses are always unbridled], conservation, and the right to self-determination. He is particularly fond of the art series depicting the ten incarnations of Lord Bishnu: praised by some art critics as his best works.

A father to two daughters, he sets an example to many people in this part of the world - there is still extreme bias towards the female child and some people have dozens of children hoping for the birth of a son. He suffers from glaucoma, arthritis, and diabetes. He says that he leads a very normal life and continues to paint and make statues and enjoys sharing time with his grandchildren. He lives on rent in Man Bhawan, Patan, as his house in Kupondol has become dilapidated. He says that the present scope of arts in Nepal is very different from that of the past. There are far greater opportunities, he says.
He is sad about the Maoist insurgency explaining that his son-in-law, in the Royal Nepal Army, was injured during an attack by Maoist guerillas in Rolpa and hopes that the Nepalese will make peace among themselves.

His artwork is on show at Birendra Art Gallery, Royal Nepal Academy, Tribhuvan University, United Nations Building, Fulko Art Museum, John Lennon Center, and other national and international venues. Though aged and ailing, he is a kind, simple, and helpful person, and is well-loved by the Nepalese arts community.