An early student of Shen, Shui says his teacher has been "a devout practitioner of landscape painting, and the depiction of landscapes is the foundation of his art life".

Shui says color is of vital importance in Shen's work. Whether he is portraying a sandy beach under the sun, a village covered in thick snow or a forest of trees on a dull day, Shen seeks to present a serene mood, a refreshing atmosphere and poetic elegance. "His extensive vision renders his paintings a depth through which one is touched by the magnificence of nature and a humanistic perspective."

Shen's cultural accumulation is derived a lot from his family that has produced intellectuals such as his maternal grandfather Shen Yinmo, an eminent scholar, poet and influential calligrapher. Shen Beixin's father and uncles have also accomplished in the fields of culture and education.

Shen Beixin says, "Those who learn Western art should also study theories of Chinese painting … for different forms of art are interrelated."