Born in Transvaal, South Africa, in 1920, Shawzin initially trained as an actor, singer, and dancer, performing in plays and films in England during the 1940s. During this time, she began studying art with German colourist Martin Bloch, who encouraged her to focus on visual art rather than performance. In the 1950s, Shawzin moved to New York to study at the Art Students League, learning from notable artists like George Bridgman, Frank DuMond, and Yasuo Kuniyoshi. She further honed her graphic skills at the Pratt Institute. Despite her training across various media, Shawzin chose to specialize in sculpture, setting up her own foundry in Cape Town to cast bronzes and working on marble sculptures in Carrara, Italy. Her work gained international recognition, with exhibitions in cities such as London, Paris, New York, Bologna, Johannesburg, and Cape Town.