Shaun was raised an only child on a hobby dairy farm in upstate New York.  His father, Bruce, retired an engineer, and his mother Linda was initially an English teacher.  Shaun credits early encounters with paintings, especially Rockwell Kent’s, for planting the seed for his eventual commitment to painting. 

Shaun’s first college degree was in Evolutionary Biology, with an Art Studio minor.  During coursework for that minor Shaun was instructed in a landscape painting course, by painting professor Mel Pekarsky, to paint landscape from direct observation, which Shaun did.  Shaun was immediately impressed by the intense challenge and learning inherent to plein air painting. Another seed planted.   A biology, then biotech career transitioned into a visual art career via the Colorado State University art program.  Shaun has been working full time as a landscape painter since 2001. 

Shaun married fellow artist and painter Dawn Cohen (Horne) in 2000.  They have three daughters together, Linda age 17, Esther age 15, and Monet, age 5.