Shawn McAvoy a self taught artist. Awards include an “Award of Excellence” 2000 from the Oyster Bay Art League for his “Snuggling Manatees”“Best in Show” award, in the 2006 Art in the Park, from the Art League of Long Island for exhibit. 2007 exhibition at the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts in Blue Mountain Lake, NY. “Right Whale Breaching”a televised special “The Secret Life of Georgia’s Whales” produced by Atlanta based WSB- TV. 2008 Honored by being invited to join the fine art group 'Long Island Professional Artist Showcase' involving many shows since 2011. Marine mammal sculpture was included in an invitational show entitled 'Water World'. 2016 Award of Excellence from Art League of Long Island for “Power and Grace” 2019 received a Proclamation from County Legislator Susan Berland for his twenty years of devotion to the arts. 'Against the Wind' was selected for the 2022 Heckscher Museum of Arts Biennial. His work is in Public, Corporate and Private collections worldwide.